By day five, the three-year-old had developed a rash across her body, with her lips, eyes and tongue turning red.

Her parents, Elizabeth and Dan, rushed her to The Royal Children’s Hospital, where she was diagnosed with kawasaki disease, which causes inflammation of blood vessels including those of the heart. If left untreated, it could trigger an aneurysm and subsequent heart problems.

“You never really think your child is going to get admitted into hospital for anything,” Elizabeth said. “We just thought something’s not quite right.”

The following day, Edith had a heart ultrasound and was placed on IVIG therapy, which uses antibody-rich donated plasma to boost the immune system.

“For a poor three-year-old, it’s pretty hard to tell them to put a cannula in their arm, it’s frightening enough,” Elizabeth said.

Dan added: “She’s just a big ball of energy so sitting still is especially challenging for her”.

Despite some “hiccups” along the way including a reaction to medication, Edith was able to explore all the amenities at the hospital.

“When she’s been well enough to come out of her room and go downstairs, the extra things they have going on in the corridors like the ice cream shop, the music classes, the art station. It’s been such a nice distraction,” Elizabeth said.

“It’s just obvious that [the hospital] really cares about the kids they are looking after. It just takes a little bit of pressure off us to entertain a sick three year old.” Dan said.

“We’re lucky to live in a city that has a facility like this.”