Jamaicans brighten ill teen’s day
A New Zealand-born teenager who is about to undergo her fifth — and hopefully final — round of chemotherapy has been surprised with a visit from Commonwealth Games athletes competing in her favourite sport.
Bailey Stephens-Makiha, who was born in Rotorua and now lives on the Gold Coast with her parents and siblings, was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma in December.
Since then she has undergone four rounds of chemotherapy, with what is hopefully her final round next month, and has blood tests taken twice a week.
During a routine blood test at Gold Coast Hospital yesterday morning 16-year-old Bailey was surprised with a visit by Jamaica’s Commonwealth Games representatives, including athletes competing in her favourite sport of netball, who gave her Games merchandise and four tickets to the opening ceremony tonight. Bailey is excited to be going to the opening ceremony and being able to see athletes from around the world in one place.
The tickets were donated by Ronald McDonald House and among the players was Romelda Aiken, whom Bailey describes as a beast on the court.
Bailey was excited by the visit, particularly because before getting sick the teenager played netball and represented Australia internationally in the sport.
During the visit Bailey said she danced with the players, mingled and took photographs with them. She said it was exciting to be visited.
Bailey’s mum, former Rotorua woman Cherisse Stephens, said she was thankful to the athletes for visiting Bailey.
“I am blown away that these athletes have gone out of their way to try to make my girl feel better and make her day brighter,” Stephens said.
Next week, Bailey undergoes her fifth round of chemotherapy. Six weeks after that, she will find out if she has been given the all-clear.
Bailey said if given the all-clear she would look at playing netball again next year, allowing her body time to recover from her illness and gain strength again.