PAIGE’S XMAS MIRACLE
JAKE and Tania Skarratt are about to receive the Christmas miracle they never thought was possible. Almost three months since they held an impromptu wedding after being told their daughter Paige only had days to live, the couple is looking forward to Monday. “She’s come home. She’s had another birthday. She’ll get another Christmas,” Jake said.
IT’S the Santa photo Paige Skarratts’ parents never thought they’d get to see.
Almost three months since the Pimpama couple held an impromptu wedding at Brisbane’s Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital after being told their daughter only had days to live, Jake and Tania Skarratts are set to be gifted another Christmas Day with their little darling.
However, while they are going all out to make it the most special of all, they do so knowing Paige’s inoperable brain tumour has grown and a spot on her spine has also been identified as cancerous.
“To reach this stage after being told we were going to lose her in a matter of days is such a blessing,” Jake said of the five-year-old who has defied medical predictions to be able to talk and walk again, albeit with severe restrictions.
“She’s come home. She’s had another birthday. She’ll get another Christmas … she’s always been about ‘Santa, Santa’. Even with everything going on, she still knows who he is and gets so excited.
“My wife calls me a bit of a Grinch because I’m normally not into Christmas but I have gone out of my way this year. We’ve decorated the house and got right into it.
“I just want to make it really special for Paige and (twoyear-old sister) Imogen.”
The big day takes on even more significance when coupled with the news Jake and Tania were handed last week.
“It wasn’t what we were hoping for,” Jake said of an MRI revealing Paige’s brain tumour has grown by a centimetre and she has another on
her spine. “It kind of sucks because we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“The doctors have told us chemo and radiation are likely to fail in Paige’s case but she’s not a candidate for immunotherapy until they’ve tried it.
“If chemo’s going to fail, why not do it now? It’s frustrating and we’re trying to think outside the square including options in the US.
“We’re trying to stay upbeat but it does feel like we’ve got limited time (with her).”
Given that, small milestones become all the more precious, none greater than when Jake held his little girl’s hand as she took to the stage at her kindergarten graduation.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including mine,” he laughed.
“I have my days. Some days it’s really tough to watch your child the way she is at the moment, but it is a blessing she’s still here.
“I still get to give her plenty of kisses – and she still doesn’t shut up (laughs).”