When two-year-old Remy was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, her parents made an instant decision. They would fight the disease with everything they had.
No matter the amount of time, money or energy needed…no sacrifice would be too much in the toughest battle of their lives.
As it turned out, the things that gave Remy the strength to keep fighting were the simple ones. The things we often take for granted – until being in hospital takes them away.
Things like making biscuits (and a great big mess) in the kitchen with mum. Splashing around in a nice warm bath or hearing her favourite story at bedtime.
When she was being treated close to home, Remy had all of those things. Then her condition got worse, and she needed seven months of specialist care in Melbourne…a four-hour drive away.
Throughout those seven months, your support gave Remy, Gillian and her husband Lee a home away from home. A place full of warmth and comfort. Where they could relax as a family, recover together and be strong as Remy fought for her life.
Please give generously so more families can have a home away from home when they need it most.
An afternoon baking with mum. A bubble bath. A cuddle on the sofa. Little things like these helped save Remy’s life.
Remy needed seven months of specialist care, far from home.
Your support will provide families like Remy’s with a comfy apartment near the hospital.
You’ll also give them a place to feel safe and supported as they face the most difficult time of their lives.
For Gillian and Lee, being close to the hospital meant they could spend more time on the ward with Remy. It was there by her bedside, day in and day out, that they encouraged her to stay strong … helped her to understand what was happening … and gave her the best possible chance of a full recovery.
When Remy was well enough to join her family back at the apartment, Gillian says it was wonderful to see her simply enjoying being a kid.
“For Remy, the apartment felt like home”, says Gillian. “It was a place where she could play with her toys, have a nice warm bath before bed, and fall asleep after reading a story together.”
Gillian says that despite having their life turned upside down, the support of friends like you helped the family experience a ‘normal’ life.
“We could cook in the apartment instead of getting take out, which wasn’t safe for Remy to eat. We could sit in a comfy couch and watch TV together after an exhausting day. We could even have family visitors.”
Those may seem like ordinary, everyday things but during Remy’s treatment, those small things made an enormous difference. They gave the family a chance to be together, away from all the tests, doctors and hospital visits. They helped bring stability and safety into Remy’s life – when everything else around her was scary and confusing. They meant mum, dad and Remy could rest, recover, and be strong – so they could keep fighting her deadly disease with everything they had.
Your support helped give them the strength to keep fighting. By giving to Fight Cancer Foundation, you provide families like Remy’s with all of that – and give them a home away from home when they need it most. When families arrive, they’ll find everything they need to settle in. The cupboards are full of pots, pans and dishes – so they can enjoy and share home-cooked meals. Or, like Remy and her mum, spend an afternoon having fun baking together. Just like at home.
When a family opens the door to their apartment for the first time, they’ll have the wonderful surprise of finding a welcome care package filled with goodies for the kids … and mum and dad.
For families who are experiencing extremely high levels of anxiety and tension, small touches like these can make a powerful difference.
“After so much stress, it was just wonderful to have somewhere to stay that felt so warm and inviting.”
When you give today, your support will help more families like Remy’s feel comforted and cared for when they’re going through the toughest times imaginable.
Look what you can provide with a gift today:
- $52 will provide a welcome care package for a family’s arrival into their apartment and make them feel instantly at home.
- $165 will help provide a well-equipped kitchen so a family can enjoy home-cooked meals together.
- $1550 will provide a home away from home apartment for a family like Remy’s for one whole month.
Click here to give today or call (03) 9342 7888.
The reality is, it costs almost $1 million every year to accommodate families in our home away from home apartments … which is why it's so important you donate today to support more families in the months ahead.
Your generous support will make all the difference to a family like Remy’s. A family who needs every bit of energy and hope, to get them through the toughest of times.
The good news is, Remy has made a full recovery and continues to make excellent progress.
Gillian and Lee say the accommodation your support helped provide in Melbourne played a critical role in Remy’s recovery.
“Without Fight Cancer Foundation, we might not have our daughter with us today. It allowed Lee and I to fight the best fight we could to save our daughter. It helped us to focus on what was important – caring for our daughter and making sure she got through it.”
Gifts to Fight Cancer Foundation kept the family together, and meant Gillian and Lee had a place to recover and stay strong for Remy. It meant Remy had a home away from home where she could enjoy being a kid again. All of which helped save her life.
Thank you for your kindness.
Donate Today to Support a Child Living with Cancer Like Remy