Little Paige goes home

LITTLE Paige Skarratts has gifted her parents the most remarkable of belated wedding presents – herself.

Five weeks since her parents held an impromptu wedding at Brisbane’s Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital after being told she only had days to live, the four-yearold has defied medical predictions to gain enough strength to return to her Pimpama home.

While still not guaranteed long-term survival, Paige has overcome a lengthy period of unconsciousness to be able to move her limbs, understand instructions and, in recent days, try to speak.

“It has taken everyone by surprise,” Jake Skarratts said of his daughter’s recovery since he and wife Tania were told nothing could be done to save her from an inoperable brain tumour.

“For a week, the doctors

were shocked every time they came to see her. It was a look of disbelief, as if this shouldn’t be happening.”

What initially happened was Paige stabilised, allowing a shunt to be installed to relieve pressure on the brain caused by excess fluid.

“That was the most scared we’ve been because we didn’t know if she was going to pull through,” Jake said. “Then she started to gain a bit more strength, which gave us hope.

“One day she moved her left arm. The next she moved her right. Then it was her legs followed by her head.

“To see her comprehend what we were saying was amazing ... we thought ‘It’s happening, she’s fighting’.”

Then, a week ago, they buckled their girl in their car and brought her home for the first time in 10 weeks.

“She had a big smile all the way,” Jake said. “She knew she was going home.

“They can’t remove any more of the tumour so chemo and radiation are needed, but we also need her to be strong enough for it. We might look at that in the new year.”

A fundraiser for the family, including auctions and raffles, will be held tonight at Arundel Hills Country Club, with tickets still available.

“I don’t have words to describe what all our friends, family and the community have done for us,” Jake said.