Baby Elijah's voice heard at inquest: mother
He was just three-months-old when he died, and today his mum says baby Elijah's voice is being heard, as an inquest tries to find out why he was shunted between five hospitals, before dying from meningitis.
First Sandra Bernobic fought with doctors to save her dying son's life, and then she fought for a coroners' inquest.
Today, clutching her dead three-month old's beanie she kept fighting for Elijah.
"While I can never bring him home again maybe we can get some changes so other children and other families don't suffer,” Sandra said.
Baby Elijah died in 2009 after falling ill on a family holiday to the New South Wales South Coast.
After two hours at Pambula Hospital, Elijah was moved to Bega a similar facility unable to deal with his illness.
Six hours later, he was sent to Canberra Hospital which has no paediatric intensive care.
Twelve hours later, he was driven to Sydney Children's Hospital, and arrived 33 hours after his first admission.
And finally baby Elijah was flown home to Melbourne Children's Hospital where he died of complications from meningitis.
"As a mum I wanted to give him every chance possible and he was robbed of those chances. Not just once,” Elijah’s mother Sandra said.
On the first day of the inquest, a New South Wales Health lawyer apologised to Elijah's family for their hurt and the system's failures. It was a start, but the family is still looking for answers.
“My son's chance to fight was taken away, he didn't get that chance,” Sandra said.
"Today through this inquest his voice will be heard."
The first doctor to see the three-month old told the inquest he sent Elijah to Bega hospital because regulations prevented him from admitting a baby to Pambula.
He said Elijah's condition had improved, but the hearing was told a paramedic heard him say the baby's temperature had risen.
The inquest continues.
