Page 26 - Dainfern Precinct Living 7 2021

TODAY’S CHILD

KEEPING MORE THAN

HOPE ALIVE

During the National Lockdown, the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA
continued to keep their programmes running. Their houses have remained
open and their Social Workers have continued to provide the various
programmes in the Paediatric Oncology Wards.

he CHOC Childhood Cancer and that the parents and caregivers things, like the day I graduated.
Foundation (CHOC) is the are relieved of the financial stress of The day I got married. My first son.
Tonly organisation that provides having to provide food, protection, The day the twins, Zach and Seth,
comprehensive countrywide support accommodation and support to their were born.
for children with cancer and other sick child and other family members,”
life-threatening blood disorders. says a spokesperson for CHOC. This was Seth’s first fight, which
They also provide support for he won. Born grey and almost
the families. The organisation’s lifeless at 32 weeks, he checked
holistic approach includes out of NICU nine days later to ‘get
emotional support in the hospital on with it’. It’s a thing he does.
wards, from diagnosis onwards,
and practical support ranging My new best day of my life
from accommodation, transport, happens to be 31 July 2019,
care bags and basic nutritional when Seth received his FINAL
support. chemo − after 1089 days of
treatment. That’s three years of
Without CHOC’s aid, many ‘getting on with it’. Here we are...
children – particularly those from
low income families living far We are honoured today as we
from treatment centres – would kick-off our new, new normal, and
not be able to access, or adhere tell our story of how we got here,
to, the necessary but arduous to the best day of our lives.
treatment cycle, which can last
over three years. As a family, we have had to fight
through some bad days to earn
The economic situation in which this day. And while we understand
we find ourselves means that that not all families are as ‘lucky’
there is a large percentage of as we are, we believe that, by
individuals who are currently sharing our journey, we can
unemployed or temporarily indeed keep hope alive!
without income. It is this reality
that many families are facing This is Seth’s story as Nothing can prepare you for the
and the Coronavirus has words “your child has cancer”
.
greatly increased the needs told by his mom, Melissa. Nothing. “You can cry,” they said,
of many families. There has “but not here. Not where he can
been a significant increase It’s about his life and his see you. Not where he can hear
in the demand for some of journey, on a path filled you. Your strength is his strength,
CHOC’s services, especially and his strength is his healing."
accommodation, food parcels, with light, with grace and a
bereavement support and How do you explain cancer to
transport funds. kind of hope that lasts. a three year old? How do you
explain the needles, the tablets,
It is at this moment that CHOC’s the bottles and bags, and spoons
essential services are needed more and spoons of medicine? The poking
than ever. “We need to ensure that As I have moved through my life, I and prodding, anaesthesia, plasters,
the children are safe, have a place have accumulated a number of ‘best bandages. The blood going in. The
to stay while attending treatment days of my life’. There are regular blood going out. More blood. The cuts
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