Australian Paralympic four-time gold medallist and former Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) patient Curtis McGrath has made a hero’s return to the hospital which helped save his life, for the launch of the RBWH Foundation’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
“To many Australians, Curtis McGrath is an inspiration and hero for both his success as a Paralympian and also the sacrifice he made serving with the Australian Defence Force,” said RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Curtis help us celebrate 40 years of advancing patient care innovation and life-saving medical research, for patients like him.”
Curtis was a combat engineer serving with the Australian Army in Afghanistan in 2012, when he lost both legs after stepping on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Fulfilling a battlefield promise to his Army squadron, Curtis has since won 12 World Championship gold in kayak and four Paralympic gold medals collected in Paris, Tokyo and Rio.
“In the aftermath of the explosion, I remember thinking my squadron was being affected by the trauma as well,” said Curtis. “I said, guys, I'll be fine: I'll just go to the Paralympics.”
Curtis was joined at the 40 Years Strong launch by Her Excellency Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, to kick-start 12 months of celebrations.
Year-long celebration plans include:
- 40 Years Strong Staff Celebration, Sunday 2 March, 2pm-5pm, for current and former staff
- ‘40 Moments of Joy’ surprises for staff and patients, starting with deliveries of OMG! Decadent Donuts to RBWH and STARS wards
- Ruby Gala Ball: 30 August at City Hall
Also announced were the Foundation’s 40 Years Strong Ambassadors, including Dolphins NRL, Queensland Reds and patients Reece Crawford, Ainslie Plumb, Glen Bennett, Stephanie Alexander, Mark Berridge, Juliette McAleer and Christine Moody.
The occasion was also an opportunity for Curtis to be reunited with members of his 2012 medical team. RBWH was critical to Curtis’s life-saving care. RBWH Trauma Surgeon Dr Michael Rudd, who was a Royal Australian Air Force Reservist, operated on Curtis in Afghanistan. At RBWH, his medical team led by Surgeon Dr Daryl Wall treated him for the potentially fatal fungal infection, mucormycosis, which at the time was killing 30% of US soldiers with similar wounds. RBWH Plastic Surgeon Dr Shireen Senewiratne operated on Curtis’s legs.
“Curtis is one of those ‘one in 10 million people’ that I've had the privilege to meet,” said Dr Wall. “I thought, I owe this man, I can't let him be overcome by mucormycosis.”
The RBWH Foundation has been proudly supporting military medical research within RBWH for the past decade. To support research, like this, please donate today.
