NEWS Keeping kids’ dreams alive in toughest times
THE chance to see Uluru, a dream trip on a fishing boat, photographing the Rip Curl Pro or simply embracing a precious daughter are some of the wishes sick children and terminal cancer patients have been denied by COVID-19.
Charities such as Make A Wish Foundation and Ovarian Cancer Australia are being forced to find creative ways to keep dreams alive during lockdown.
“We have 700 children on a wish journey at the moment and a huge proportion of those wishes involve components of travel,” said Head of Wishes at Make A Wish Australia Keira Blake.
Building anticipation for an experience of a lifetime is a key part of the charity’s job and, for some children who were due to have their wishes granted in recent months, that anticipation has had to be extended due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
“If someone said I want to be a princess and we delivered that tomorrow it wouldn’t have the same impact as if you built up to it,” said Ms Blake.
“We try to give moments of joy along the way.
“Right now we’re having to build more anticipation into the wish.”
Summah Russell, 14, got through two gruelling years of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and was looking forward to a longedfor trip to Uluru in April to learn dot painting from indigenous artists when the COVID-19 lockdown put her Make a Wish trip on hold.
“I was going to do a painting lesson with the elders and have a birthday dinner under the stars and do a segway ride around the rock with my dad,” said Summah, from Sydney. Her wish was inspired by a hospital visit from indigenous artists during NAIDOC week when she was undergoing chemotherapy.
“I was really disappointed it was cancelled,” she said, but she’s already looking forward to reorganising the trip.
To keep her dream alive Make A Wish Australia sent Summah a countdown calendar, a letter designed in her favourite art style asking her to draw what she thinks her wish will look like, a stargazing letter giving her tips on what stars to look out for while on her wish, and a list of fun attractions, map and things to do in Alice Springs/ Uluru.
Torin Connell had his bags packed and was due to fly to Hobart for his dream trip on a fishing boat the day before the lockdown came into effect, cancelling the 13-yearold’s first ever family holiday.
Severely disabled as a result of complications caused by the cytomegalovirus his mother contracted while he was in utero, the Melbourne teenager is deaf, can’t speak, has cerebral palsy, autism and can only use his left arm.
“It was such terrible timing,” said Torin’s mother Beth, who has four other children and had to cancel the disability services she uses to help care for her son during COVID-19 because he is acutely vulnerable to infection.
Torin has a fish tank in his bedroom, with the colourful fish helping to keep him calm. He loves visiting the aquarium and watches big fishing videos on Youtube.
“We visited a trout farm when he was six and he’s only got the use of one arm but he caught a fish and he thought it was Christmas,” Mrs Connell said.
To keep Torin’s dream alive, Make a Wish Australia asked YouTube fishing guru Robbie Alexander to make a special video for the teenager, they are sending a countdown calendar, a letter from a Qantas captain, a fishing charter video and a packing list.
Torin was so moved by the video “he put his shoes on straight away and thought we were leaving then”, his mother said. “They’re going out of their way to make it the most exciting thing for us.”
Ovarian Cancer Australia said women with cancer were anxious their lowered immunity put them at greater risk during COVID-19, and they couldn’t get together with support people and family members and couldn’t complete longed-for activities and travel .
It is urging cancer patients finding it hard to cope to speak with a cancer nurse and access support services. Call OCA Helpline on 1300 660 334 or email support@ovariancancer.net.au for more information.
Go to ovariancancer.net .au/donations to make a donation to Ovarian Cancer Australia.
Go to makeawish.org.au/ support/ways-to-donate to donate to Make A Wish Australia.