Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital

Bee stings are part of the job when honey is your business, but when a sting leads to a life-threatening reaction, it takes an expert team to find the 'sweet spot' treatment for a safe return to the hives. 🐝🐝

Beekeeper-turned-patient Chez had the unfortunate luck of suffering a bee sting in April last year. Unlike every other sting, this time she had an anaphylaxis reaction, meaning her throat started to close up as her body reacted to the venom.

"It was one of the scariest experiences of my life," shares Chez, pictured here with CN Catherine from Immunology.

"It meant I could no longer work with the bees alongside my husband like I used to."

Chez was treated in emergency and referred to the Immunology team at the RBWH, where she is undergoing a venom desensitisation therapy so she can eventually work with bees again.

Each month she receives injections to the equivalent of two bee stings which will allow her to build up a resistance, and after 490 days, she's finally able to work with the bees again. 🐝😊

"Modern medicine really is incredible, and I feel so lucky to be experiencing the benefits of it." ... See MoreSee Less

"Whoever stitched me back up could work on Savile Row as a tailor, they did such a good job!"

"We moved to Australia from London in 2009. I was a sparkie, and at one time led a large team of 32 technicians who maintained networks from the Gold Coast to Redcliffe. We did a good job, but the huge team here leaves me in awe with how they multitask so well."

"I used to think a nurse was a nurse, but they do so much more. They oversee food and medication and know the mechanics of all the equipment - all with a smile on their faces."

"One of the things I've realised in life is that we all hold back on doing the things we really want to do. My advice is just to get on with it."

💭 Monday Mantra, Andrew, 59, RBWH patient ... See MoreSee Less

Did you know that the Comprehensive Third-Party (CTP) insurance you pay for brings Queenslanders changemakers like Dr Rebekah?⚕️💵

Dr Rebekah is a Trauma Fellow at RBWH who oversees some of the most severely injured patients. Her day is as complex as the patients who present at the Emergency Department, who are treated by her and a team of surgeons, nurses, and other staff. 👐

We wouldn't have access to Dr Rebekah's expertise without the support of the Jamieson Trauma Institute, who work alongside the Motor Accident Insurance Commission to support people injured in motor vehicle crashes.

Dr Rebekah also works hard to provide trauma survivors with a support network after their hospital stay, as part of ensuring patients are adjusting to their injuries after surviving a life-changing ordeal.

"My hope as a trauma surgeon is to provide excellent clinical care, whilst also influencing policies and systems that minimise injuries and enhance recoveries," she shares.

"We're looking at the benefits of working proactively to create a cohesive network across the state."

To find out more about the partnerships that bring us doctors like Dr Rebekah, check out the JTI website here - metronorth.health.qld.gov.au/jamieson-trauma-institute/about/overview ... See MoreSee Less

At RBWH, the small but mighty Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthetic team is in the business of helping people feel whole again after losing a body part. The statewide service develops a range of prosthetic body parts for patients such as noses, ears, eyes, orbits, nipples, and even fingers or toes. 👁️🖐️👂👃

Prosthetist Maria and her team work with each patient over many months to create a life-like silicone prosthetic that blends in naturally with their face or body, ensuring no detail is missed in the design like miniscule blood vessels or hair.

“Most of our patients come to us after a long journey of recovery from cancer or trauma, and the prosthesis becomes a symbol of hope. It's the moment they start to reclaim a part of their identity and move toward feeling ‘normal’ again,” Maria said.

“For those who require facial prostheses, they are not cosmetic luxuries - they’re essential for restoring basic functions like speaking, eating, and interacting with others.

“I feel so privileged to do what I do. My job is the perfect mix of science, art and empathy.” ... See MoreSee Less