Ian Horswill
30 December 2019, 1:59 AM
Our Kids fundraising coordinator Rebekka Battista has revealed her future intentions as she remains in Sydney after having a kidney removed and transplanted in her 21-year-old son Isaak.
Battista, who had to be rescued by firemen on Saturday when the unit Isaak and her are staying in became flooded due to a broken water pipe in the property above, said the pair will rest and recuperate in Sydney after the major operations.
SUNDAY PROFILE: Rebekka Battista brings light to others
"I can travel now but we’ve decided to stay here and take the time to rest until I see the specialist which is mid-January (if) he gives me the okay to get back to normal duties," she said.
"We are doing really well. Isaak's blood results are excellent. Daily he has tests at the hospital.
"Staying here forces me to rest which is good as I’m the type who if I come home would dive back into work and all that I love maybe a little earlier than I should.
"Also being here allows me to support Isaak so I am enjoying wearing my mother’s hat."
Rebekka Battista donated her kidney to her son Isaak in separate major operations at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown, Sydney on December 10.
Isaak's father and Rebekka's husband, Gianpiero Battista, a Lismore City Councillor, donated a kidney to Isaak 13 years ago, when he was aged eight as he was born with renal failure.
With the kidney beginning to fail, doctors discovered that Rebekka's kidney was compatible for Isaak. His mother underwent a six-hour operation to remove one of her kidneys and Isaak had eight hours of surgery to have the kidney transplanted.
Rebekka gifts her son a kidney for Christmas
The pair are able to get out and about and attended a service by Robert Fergusson at the Hillsong Church in Sydney on Sunday.
They have also been moved into new accommodation after their unit they are staying in was flooding.
A NSW Fire and Rescue appliance outside the unit block where Rebekka Battista's temporary home became flooded. Photo: Rebekka Battista / Facebook
"Hilariously the maintenance man was working in the above apartment and broke a major water pipe. NSW Fire and Rescue were awesome as were the managers (the apartment block) here. Because we can’t lift yet the firemen moved us to temporary accommodation that the manager had organised .... how beautiful is that ! They even offered us a lift but not sure I could have got up into the truck after the operation," Rebekka said.
"This morning the accommodation manager moved us back into a new apartment. They have been so good as well and so apologetic."