FAMILY AND FRIENDS STAND BEHIND QUINN
FROM sushi to dumplings, Paw Patrol, and crafts, Quinn Wiatkowski is an adventurous and creative four-year-old girl who enjoys spending her days like most younger children.
However, in early April, Quinn was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and is currently in Sydney for her treatment with her parents, Jeremy and Sheridan, and her baby sister Niamh.
She has completed her first stage of chemo and is residing at the Ronald Mcdonald House with her family.
Well-known in the Dubbo community, Jeremy and Sheridan have participated in river clean ups, charity events and fundraising work, but will not ask for help themselves.
Quinn’s godfather, Stuart Rae, has organised a charity auction night to be held at the Dubbo RSL which will consist of several auctions and prizes, with all proceeds going to help the Wiatkowski family.
The night will also include a two-course meal, and two hours of complimentary beer, wine and soft drink, with entertainment throughout the night.
According Mr Rae, the family is “fortunate enough to have such a big support network”, with friends and family coming together to make the process as simple as they could.
Jeremy and Sheridan have worked very well together over the past few months, with Mr Rae describing Jeremy as collected and calm, while Sheridan is determined and driven.
Quinn’s godmother, Kathleen Cheney, explained that the couple initially thought their little girl was going to be diagnosed with meningococcal disease as she had a virus and a rash.
“It all happened very quickly,” Ms Cheney said, remembering Sheridan being very level-headed and determined to fight.
“Quinn’s a brave little girl – she’s one of the strongest girls we know.”
Ms Cheney’s own daughter, Eliza, is close friends with Quinn, and “the two of them together are like two peas in a pod”.
“Initially, Quinn is quiet and reserved, but once you get to know her, she becomes comfortable.”
The four-year-old understands what is going on and the couple has been very open with Quinn about her treatments, according to Ms Cheney.
“Quinn has been a fighter the whole way through,” she said, adding that Quinn was born at 29 weeks as Sheridan was diagnosed with preeclampsia.
Due to the intensity of chemo, treatment cannot continue if Quinn displays symptoms of fevers or illness.
Her grandmother, Jenni Davis, said treatments are scheduled for twice a week, but it frequently changes.
“It goes up and down, some days she can’t walk because she’s so weak, but yesterday she walked out of the hospital,” Mrs Davis smiled.
Quinn is experiencing hair loss and hunger, and Jeremy and Sheridan are shaving their heads to support their daughter through her treatment period.
“They gave Quinn a choice of what she wanted to do with her hair – of cutting it or colouring it – but she said that she wanted to keep it how it is,” Mrs Davis said.