BREAKING her finger after dropping a rock on it while looking for bugs did have some advantages for three-year-old Aurora Logan.
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Her brief stay at Warrnambool Base Hospital not only fixed her damaged digit but coincided with a visit by Santa and his trusty helpers to the hospital’s paediatric ward.
Even better, Santa presented her with a Disney Princess doll named — Aurora.
“It made her day,” her mother Madi Logan said.
Aurora’s accident on Tuesday didn’t keep her in hospital for long and she is looking forward to her usual double celebration of her birthday on Christmas Day at home.
It also hasn’t diminished her passion for entomology.
Her mum said Aurora was more interested in bugs than dolls and was back searching for creepy-crawlies the day after her accident.
“She went back outside the next morning and showed me the rock that did it, and she found more bugs.”
Another young patient, William Reilly, of Pirron Yallock near Colac, was a little unsure of the man in red but not about the gifts he brought — some model cars and a ramp.
William, 19 months old, has entertained himself with the toys while he gets on top of an infection and waits for a bone marrow transplant that doctors hope will build up his immunity.
William’s bone marrow failure has meant he has been in and out of hospitals for much of his young life.
However, his mother Anna said William was a “lively boy” and she has been racing after him, pushing the pole carrying his intravenous fluids, while he was in the children’s ward.
“He has loads of energy,” Mrs Reilly said. “He’s making a mess.” William has been in the hospital since December 12 and is likely to be there until Boxing Day.
However, Mrs Reilly said most of her son’s previous hospital stays had been at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne so being closer to his relatives means he should be able to join them for a few hours on Christmas Day for lunch.
It is the 82nd year that Santa, whose visit was sponsored by Fonterra, has visited the hospital.
Members of the Holiday Actors also entertained patients and staff with carol singing.