Former NICU patients Amalia and Melaina Kekatos gave back to RPA with a heartfelt donation 
 

Nine years after their premature birth, twins Amalia and Melaina Kekatos returned to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to give back to the place where their lives began. 

Born at 36 weeks and cared for in the NICU, the girls – now Year 3 students at Pymble Ladies’ College (PLC) – took part in this year’s Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn with their classmates. Together, PLC raised more than $16,000 for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, with an extraordinary $13,000 raised by Amalia and Melaina themselves. 

In recognition of their fundraising efforts, the twins were given the opportunity to choose a hospital and a piece of equipment to donate. They selected RPA, honouring the specialised care they received as newborns, and purchased an Astodia Diaphanoscope valued at $3480 for the NICU. 

The equipment is designed to support doctors and nurses in inserting intravenous cannulas into babies. By using near-infrared light to make veins visible through the skin, the Diaphanoscope guides the procedure, reducing the number of attempts and minimising pain, bruising, and distress for babies at NICU. 

For the girls and their family, the decision was deeply personal. 

“We feel incredibly proud of Amalia and Melaina. As babies, they benefited from this equipment in the NICU, so for them to now be able to give something back is really special,” said Marissa Kopoulos, the twins’ mother. 

Their effort was guided by PLC’s Head Coach of Athletics, Deb Walsham, who supported and trained the students in preparation for the event. The cause held particular meaning for Deb, whose own son spent several months in hospital as a newborn. 

Professor Adrienne Gordon, Senior Staff Specialist Neonatologist and Acting Head of Department at RPA Newborn Care, said the gift would have a lasting impact. 

“This is a wonderful example of community giving and the impact it has,” Professor Gordon said. 

“For families and staff, having the right equipment can ease anxiety and reduce discomfort for the tiniest babies. We are enormously thankful to Amalia, Melaina, and Pymble Ladies’ College for their generosity and thoughtfulness.”