'She gave me a kiss and a cuddle': Dad's plight to support injured daughter

The Advertiser

3 days ago

Brendan Griffiths has been living a nightmare as his 10-year-old daughter Nellie recovers from a traumatic horse-riding accident.
"The horse got spooked and she fell off," he told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, in a matter-of-fact way that belies his own trauma from the incident.
Nellie suffered a litany of injuries, including four fractured ribs, a fractured collarbone and spine and brain swelling.
Mr Griffiths, from Portland in NSW's central west, has spent the last few weeks over 100km from home renting a unit opposite the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney where his daughter is recovering.
A steady stream of visitors, including his parents and two sisters, have camped there too.
The good news is that Nellie has left the ICU.
"The first thing she did was give me a kiss and a cuddle," he said.
But the hospital says it could be months before she is home in Coleambally in the Riverina, where she lives with her mum.
"It's been very stressful," he said. "Sometimes she is good, other times cranky, and frustrated."
Mr Griffiths, who works as a farmhand, has not been paid since the accident as he spends time supporting his daughter and her sister, Annalise, who lives with him.
A GoFundMe raising money for the family's plight comes as new data from the crowdfunding platform revealed Aussies donated over $70 million to medical fundraisers, making it the largest category on GoFundMe in 2024.
NSW accounted for the highest number of medical fundraisers in 2024 at 30 per cent, followed by Queensland and Victoria, accounting for 22 per cent each.
GoFundMe's Nicola Britton said medical fundraisers were often launched to ask for help to cover the cost of travelling to a different city or interstate to receive treatment.
READ MORE: How accurate are sunscreen SPF claims? Tests show that most brands fall short
"The fine line between income and out-of-pocket expenses is leaving patients and their families making impossible decisions; a choice between employment and treatment, or being with a loved one during sickness," she said.
"This is particularly pertinent in Australia, with many having to relocate, or travel, to be closer to specialist care centres."
Mr Griffiths said the money raised goes some way to allowing him to support his beloved daughter whom he affectionately calls Nell.
Brendan Griffiths has been living a nightmare as his 10-year-old daughter Nellie recovers from a traumatic horse-riding accident.
"The horse got spooked and she fell off," he told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, in a matter-of-fact way that belies his own trauma from the incident.
Nellie suffered a litany of injuries, including four fractured ribs, a fractured collarbone and spine and brain swelling.
Mr Griffiths, from Portland in NSW's central west, has spent the last few weeks over 100km from home renting a unit opposite the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney where his daughter is recovering.
A steady stream of visitors, including his parents and two sisters, have camped there too.
The good news is that Nellie has left the ICU.
"The first thing she did was give me a kiss and a cuddle," he said.
But the hospital says it could be months before she is home in Coleambally in the Riverina, where she lives with her mum.
"It's been very stressful," he said. "Sometimes she is good, other times cranky, and frustrated."
Mr Griffiths, who works as a farmhand, has not been paid since the accident as he spends time supporting his daughter and her sister, Annalise, who lives with him.
A GoFundMe raising money for the family's plight comes as new data from the crowdfunding platform revealed Aussies donated over $70 million to medical fundraisers, making it the largest category on GoFundMe in 2024.
NSW accounted for the highest number of medical fundraisers in 2024 at 30 per cent, followed by Queensland and Victoria, accounting for 22 per cent each.
GoFundMe's Nicola Britton said medical fundraisers were often launched to ask for help to cover the cost of travelling to a different city or interstate to receive treatment.
READ MORE: How accurate are sunscreen SPF claims? Tests show that most brands fall short
"The fine line between income and out-of-pocket expenses is leaving patients and their families making impossible decisions; a choice between employment and treatment, or being with a loved one during sickness," she said.
"This is particularly pertinent in Australia, with many having to relocate, or travel, to be closer to specialist care centres."
Mr Griffiths said the money raised goes some way to allowing him to support his beloved daughter whom he affectionately calls Nell.
Brendan Griffiths has been living a nightmare as his 10-year-old daughter Nellie recovers from a traumatic horse-riding accident.
"The horse got spooked and she fell off," he told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, in a matter-of-fact way that belies his own trauma from the incident.
Nellie suffered a litany of injuries, including four fractured ribs, a fractured collarbone and spine and brain swelling.
Mr Griffiths, from Portland in NSW's central west, has spent the last few weeks over 100km from home renting a unit opposite the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney where his daughter is recovering.
A steady stream of visitors, including his parents and two sisters, have camped there too.
The good news is that Nellie has left the ICU.
"The first thing she did was give me a kiss and a cuddle," he said.
But the hospital says it could be months before she is home in Coleambally in the Riverina, where she lives with her mum.
"It's been very stressful," he said. "Sometimes she is good, other times cranky, and frustrated."
Mr Griffiths, who works as a farmhand, has not been paid since the accident as he spends time supporting his daughter and her sister, Annalise, who lives with him.
A GoFundMe raising money for the family's plight comes as new data from the crowdfunding platform revealed Aussies donated over $70 million to medical fundraisers, making it the largest category on GoFundMe in 2024.
NSW accounted for the highest number of medical fundraisers in 2024 at 30 per cent, followed by Queensland and Victoria, accounting for 22 per cent each.
GoFundMe's Nicola Britton said medical fundraisers were often launched to ask for help to cover the cost of travelling to a different city or interstate to receive treatment.
READ MORE: How accurate are sunscreen SPF claims? Tests show that most brands fall short
"The fine line between income and out-of-pocket expenses is leaving patients and their families making impossible decisions; a choice between employment and treatment, or being with a loved one during sickness," she said.
"This is particularly pertinent in Australia, with many having to relocate, or travel, to be closer to specialist care centres."
Mr Griffiths said the money raised goes some way to allowing him to support his beloved daughter whom he affectionately calls Nell.
Brendan Griffiths has been living a nightmare as his 10-year-old daughter Nellie recovers from a traumatic horse-riding accident.
"The horse got spooked and she fell off," he told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, in a matter-of-fact way that belies his own trauma from the incident.
Nellie suffered a litany of injuries, including four fractured ribs, a fractured collarbone and spine and brain swelling.
Mr Griffiths, from Portland in NSW's central west, has spent the last few weeks over 100km from home renting a unit opposite the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney where his daughter is recovering.
A steady stream of visitors, including his parents and two sisters, have camped there too.
The good news is that Nellie has left the ICU.
"The first thing she did was give me a kiss and a cuddle," he said.
But the hospital says it could be months before she is home in Coleambally in the Riverina, where she lives with her mum.
"It's been very stressful," he said. "Sometimes she is good, other times cranky, and frustrated."
Mr Griffiths, who works as a farmhand, has not been paid since the accident as he spends time supporting his daughter and her sister, Annalise, who lives with him.
A GoFundMe raising money for the family's plight comes as new data from the crowdfunding platform revealed Aussies donated over $70 million to medical fundraisers, making it the largest category on GoFundMe in 2024.
NSW accounted for the highest number of medical fundraisers in 2024 at 30 per cent, followed by Queensland and Victoria, accounting for 22 per cent each.
GoFundMe's Nicola Britton said medical fundraisers were often launched to ask for help to cover the cost of travelling to a different city or interstate to receive treatment.
READ MORE: How accurate are sunscreen SPF claims? Tests show that most brands fall short
"The fine line between income and out-of-pocket expenses is leaving patients and their families making impossible decisions; a choice between employment and treatment, or being with a loved one during sickness," she said.
"This is particularly pertinent in Australia, with many having to relocate, or travel, to be closer to specialist care centres."
Mr Griffiths said the money raised goes some way to allowing him to support his beloved daughter whom he affectionately calls Nell.