Burns victim says thanks

By Jade Lawton
KOOWEERUP’S Suica family – Gabriel, Christina and Andrea – have put out a call of thanks to the town that rallied around its newest residents when Andrea was burnt in an accident last year.
The accident, on 24 July, happened less than a month after the family moved into their unit.
Christina was frying some oil to make chips for Andrea, then eight, when she was distracted by a knock on the door.
While Christina was talking to the door-to-door salesman, Andrea called out that there was a fire in the kitchen.
“I took the pan out the front door and it splashed on Andrea’s hair and her shoulder.
“She was on fire. I threw the frypan in the flowers and this man, he did nothing.
“Andrea was running around and I beat the fire out with my hand.”
Andrea was airlifted to the Royal Children’s Hospital, while Christina was taken to Dandenong Hospital.
The Suica’s neighbour, Charlie Adamson, heard of their plight and called other well-known locals for help.
On a working visa, the family had no health insurance and were not covered by Medicare, so locals chipped in to cover the cost of Andrea’s five operations.
The entire town soon became involved in the fundraising, with raffles, street stalls, sausage sizzles, and bus trips to the Victoria Market, even organising a surprise birthday party when Andrea turned nine.
Andrea, who wants to be a vet, endured her last operation just a few weeks ago.
Her hair is now growing back thanks to a complex procedure that involved inserting balloons under her scalp, and then inflating them with a saline solution to stretch her skin.
She has scars on her face and shoulder that may require further skin grafts when she is older.
“Thankyou very much for all you have done,” Mrs Suica said.
“All the people (in Kooweerup) say hello, how are you, are you OK. We feel very good here, it is our community.”
Mrs Suica said many people needed to be thanked, including Kooweerup residents and the staff and doctors of the Royal Children’s Hospital.
But it is clear that Charlie and his wife June have been a pillar of support.
“Charlie and June, they are for us like gold.
“Andrea calls them her grandparents and they are like parents, best friends and the best neighbours for us. There are not enough words,” Mrs Suica said.
The bank account set-up to help Andrea continues, and has since helped other Kooweerup residents in need.
“Thanks to everybody who helped me,” Andrea smiled.