Arabella Hawley's letter to Shoalhaven Hospital in midst of COVID pandemic draws beautiful response

The following involves an eight-year-old NSW South Coast girl who wrote to Shoalhaven Hospital with her suggestions on how to combat COVID-19 and the brilliant response from the hospital's head of surgery, Professor Martin Jones.

Arabella Hawley, of Bomaderry, a year two student at Berry Public School, starts her letter saying "I think I have found the cure for COVID-19."

"I just really want to help," she said.

"I have always been interested in what's inside the body.

"I like making different discoveries and solving problems, I'd probably like to be a scientist when I grow up."

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Like any good recipe it needs ingredients and a method.

Arabella says you will need paper towel, a microscope, operating tools, tweezers, a needle and sleeping gas.

As for the method -

1 - Put sleeping gas in the needle and put in the patient.

2 - Use the operating tools to open either the front or back.

3 - Use the microscope to find COVID in body.

4 - Try and get out the COVID by using the tweesers (sic) and put in the paper towel.

5 - Try to figure out where COVID is coming from and examine that part closely.

And it came with a PS: Spread the news!

Proud mum Danielle said her daughter spoke about and was passionate about her ideas.

"After talking about Coronavirus and her suggestions for a few weeks she decided she should write a letter to the hospital," Mrs Hawley said.

"We have a friend who is a nurse and we told her about it and she took the letter and gave it personally to Professor Jones."

"We never expected to get a reply," Arabella said.

"It was a real surprise and really nice. I felt very special."

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Professor Jones' reply was just as touching saying he was "pleased to see" her directions to "FIX" COVID-19.

"We are very lucky to be in a hospital that has many doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and technicians who can help me look at your words of advice," Professor Jones wrote back.

"I agree with you that in the treatment of Coronavirus we will need many different ways of attacking this virus that has caused a lot of problems for many people across Australia and the world.

"What I ask of you and your family and friends is to practice the safe things that will keep us all well.

1 - Keep your distance.

2 - Try not to touch your face.

3 - Wash your hands especially at school.

4 - Cover your coughs with your elbow.

"I will work hard with your directions and also see what other children suggest.

"I am delighted to receive your help with this dangerous infection."

Professor Jones said he "get lots of letters seeking advice and giving it."

"I do read them all and mostly reply," he said.

Arabella's suggestion has been published in the hospital's newsletter and has also appeared on the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District's Facebook page.

"I told everyone at school during my news about the letter," she said.

"They were all impressed and excited."

Her actions have also inspired a few of her classmates who are also putting their thoughts together on ways to try and solve or help out during the pandemic.

She said she already undertakes a lot of Professor Jones' suggestions.

"How we are at school has changed," she said. "We have to social distance, of course, and there is less physical contact between my friends."