"Whether you have experienced ICU care personally or simply believe in the power of compassion and science working together, your gift can change lives."
My journey into ICU nursing began long before today. It started when I was just six years old—when I became critically ill with both Influenza A and B, leading to renal failure. I was admitted to the very place I now call my professional home: the Intensive Care Unit.
Although I was still young, I will never forget the compassion, expertise, and dedication of the ICU team that stood by us. That experience lit a fire in me—a deep desire to give back in the most meaningful way I could.
Today, I stand on the other side of the ICU bed, caring for patients during the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I understand their fear and uncertainty because I have lived it. And I know how crucial it is not only to treat the illness but to support the human being behind it—with skill, compassion, and hope.
But none of this work happens in isolation.
Behind every life-saving intervention is a network of support—researchers, educators, and donors—working to push the boundaries of what is possible.
The Intensive Care Foundation is at the heart of this mission.
They fund research and education that turns good care into world-class care and that ensures patients not only survive their ICU experience but thrive afterward with a better quality of life.
That is why I am writing to you today because this critical work depends on people like you.
Your donation helps elevate ICU care by:
- Funding pilot studies that lead to large-scale, life-saving research
- Supporting the continued education of ICU staff to deliver the best care possible
As someone who owes their life to intensive care, and who now dedicates every day to giving others that same chance, I am asking for your support.
Whether you have experienced ICU care personally or simply believe in the power of compassion and science working together, your gift can change lives.
1 in 2 people in Australia and New Zealand will require intensive care in their lifetime, so this affects everyone. Together, we can make sure every critically ill patient receives not just the best possible care—but the best possible future.
Please donate today
With deep gratitude,
Molly O’Callaghan
ICU Nurse at the Royal Children’s Hospital & Former ICU Patient
Proud Supporter of the Intensive Care Foundation