4th August 2013

This photo says it all! 

We made it! After a shaky start on Saturday, with Alexandra at the doctors early in the am, we finally left for Sydney at about 4pm. The Starlight Children's Foundation kindly added a travel day to either end of our trip, including a night's accommodation in Sydney. They have been so thoughtful and thorough with everything to ensure Victoria has the best experience possible. This extra night certainly made the travel a lot easier. 

Today was a big travel day, leaving Sydney on a 7am flight for Melbourne. We took all possible precautions with Victoria. There was no way she was not going to get to the snow! Upon arriving in Melbourne we got the Mt Buller Ski Express for the 3 hour drive to Mt.Buller. We were certainly not disappointed as we drove up the mountain and the children got their first glimpse of the snow. There were plenty of squeals of delight in the coach. There was 15 cm of snow today!

The Starlight Children's Foundation have arranged accommodation at the amazing Breathtaker All Suite Hotel. This is the view at the entrance of the hotel! After checking out the hotel, it took us about an hour to get kitted up for the snow, and then out we went exploring ....

... and Marshall thought it would be fun to eat the snow!

It as been such an awesome day. Everyone is very tired, but full of great memories already.Thank you to everyone who has 'prayed us here'. Please continue to pray that everyone remains well and Alexandra's cold will not spread to anyone else.

We are so absolutely grateful to the Starlight Children's Foundation for granting Victoria her wish. It was just so precious to see her jumping, sliding and rolling in the snow today.

It is movie month in September for the Starlight Foundation. They are featuring Victoria's story to encourage people to get involved in fundraising during movie month. Please click on this link if you want to find out more about it, link to Starlight Movie Month page.

3rd August 2013

This is the look on Victoria's face at the Starlight Express Room this week when she was given a surprise presentation of her Wish. It was a priceless moment.

Her wishgranter, Debra was there with a basket of necessary snow things ....

As we witnessed this celebration I reflected on everything Victoria has been through and overcome and how wonderful it is that she is now getting this 'wish'. It is hers and hers alone. Whilst the rest of our family are also getting to experience Victoria's wish too, I have gently reminded the children why Victoria has received this wish, and that we need to do our very best to celebrate her and where she is at today.

We are so grateful to God that we are all well, and this week has been such a contrast to last week. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for the health of Victoria and our family. Please continue to pray for good health and that Victoria's wish will be the best experience ever for her.

Psalm 92:1-2 comes to mind this morning .....

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.

Victoria has been enjoying the transition to riding program at the Riding for the Disabled center, doing different exercises to improve her balance. And learning how to give instructions to Sprinkles.

This week she started riding in a saddle, with stirrups and reigns. It is all very exciting, and continues to be a highlight of each week.

Throughout the huge "lows" and "highs" of this journey, there is one thing that I have endeavored to keep consistent in my life, and that is a daily handing Victoria over to God. Some days that has been harder than others. Some days there has simply been no other choice. I have found this passage of scripture to be the absolute truth, Matthew 11:28-30

Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief, ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

For my yoke is wholesome (useful, good - not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant) and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

26th July 2013

Victoria has been given the 'ok' to check out of Hotel John Hunter today. Praise God! We are now looking forward to 10 days of perfect health before we hit the snow at Mt.Buller.

The turning point for Victoria yesterday was the arrival at the hospital of her sister Alexandra ...

and Aunty Allison and Jade, who have been doing a sterling job back at the house.

Until their visit, Victoria had no interest in eating, drinking or taking her medicine. And there were certainly no smiles! 

The love of family can do amazing things. 

The smile hasn't left Victoria's face since their visit. A good friend visited later in the afternoon. Victoria and her busied themselves making airline tickets for the snow trip whilst I had a little break.

Later in the evening the wonderful Starlight Foundation volunteer that has been assigned to our family visited Victoria.

Debra-lee has played a key role in the planning Victoria's wish and helping us get prepared. A friend of hers gave Victoria the blow-up penguin just to help us get into the 'snow mood' a bit more.

Please pray that Victoria will remain well for the next 3 weeks whilst we prepare for the wish, and experience the wish. After a bit of reading last night I found out that the week we are at Mt.Buller is Christmas week, so there are numerous extra activities going on there. What a blessing!

Once again these past three days have been a strong reminder that wrapping myself in God's word is key to mentally getting through the difficult times .... Deuteronomy 8:3

And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your father know that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Thank you again to everyone who has been praying for Victoria and our family. We appreciate your faithfulness more than I can say.

25th July 2013

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Victoria over the past few days. As some of you already know Victoria has been back in hospital since Tuesday night this week, with high temperatures, cause is unknown. Her temperature is stable today, but she is still not back to the joyful Victoria we know and love.

A very big thank you to my sister who has extended her visit from New Zealand to look after the other children at home. Thus giving Ken's parents and our friends some respite! 

Every Thursday fortnight Camp Quality and the hospital social worker for families with kids with cancer put on a yummy morning tea for the parents with kids currently in the J1 ward. The morning tea was on this morning. It was a blessing to leave the hospital room and chat with some of the other parents. It is always confronting to listen to what the other parents are experiencing with their children, however at the same time supportive as we all have some understanding as to what each other is going through.

On Tuesday morning as I was doing my devotions I was reading John 6:4-5 from The Message bible:

When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what He was going to do.

As I read this scripture, the last part of the passage, 'He already knew what He was going to do' really spoke to my heart. I felt that God was telling me that He already knows the outcome with Victoria's health, and I am to rest in that truth. The situation is not 'out-of-control'. 

How necessary it was for me to have that assurance in my heart prior to coming to hospital late Tuesday night. Once again I am so grateful to have a God who is the creator of the universe, and yet so interested in our individual well-being.

Please pray that Victoria's health will continue to improve. 

21st July 2013

Victoria is looking a lot better this morning. Her blood results are healthier and she has been given the all clear to go home! Thank you for your prayers and for the support we have received throughout the weekend.

Yesterday aside from playing Masterchef, Victoria had a visit from Jasper, from Delta Therapy Dogs. It was a highlight of the afternoon. He is such a beautiful dog.

Ken bought up the other children for a visit too. Victoria was pleased to see them. They were pleased to see the Nickelodeon channel on the TV as we don't offer that service at home!

These two days of forced rest have done both Victoria and myself lots of good. Victoria is looking rested for school tomorrow. I have had time to get my head around all I heard last week from the doctors and to seek God to see what He has to say about it. Here are some of scriptures He gave me this morning to stand on over the next three months. I hope they are encouraging to you too for whatever trials you are currently facing in your life:

1 Peter 5:7 Casting the "whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

Psalm 29:11 The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God of our salvation! Selah [pause and calmly think of that]!

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible fulfilment.

20th July 2013

Presenting Masterchef from the John Hunter Hospital. Here is Victoria's latest creation. All you need is 2 jatz crackers, cheese, plum jam and margerine!

Yes, that's right, Victoria had a high temperature late yesterday afternoon, so up to John Hunter Hospital we went. She is doing a lot better today, and will hopefully go home tomorrow.

Please pray that:

1. Victoria's neutrofils and hemoglobin increase as they were quite low last night. 

2. Victoria is well enough to start term 3 of school on Monday.

In my recent daily devotions, God has been reminding me to put on His armour .... Ephesians 6:13-18, particularly verse 16, Lift up over all the [covering] shield of "saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. 

Thank you for continuing to lift up Victoria and our family. Thank you too to everyone who has helped out our family this weekend.

18th July 2013

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for Victoria. God has been faithful. The tumour has not grown. It is stable, possibly slightly reduced in size. 

It has taken me a good 24 hours to come to a place of heartfelt thankfulness for this result. I had hoped for a reduction like we witnessed in the April scan. However, that is not the case this time.  This morning I found solace in psalm 23:6 ...

Surely or only goodness, mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

The chemotherapy treatment will continue another 3 months until October. Please pray that Victoria will continue to handle this treatment so well with minimal side effects, and that all hospital visits will be a positive experience for her.

Thank you to everyone who prayed for Victoria on the day of the MRI. She had to fast from 7am. The MRI which was originally scheduled for 2pm did not take place until 5.15pm. Victoria coped very well with this delay, with minimal complaints regarding hunger or thirst. We thank God for the peace that was over her. The nursing staff commented on how good she had been with the delay.

We spent our time alternating between painting in the Starlight Express room, and watching DVDs on my laptop. It was a long day! A big thank you to everyone who has helped out this week looking after the other children whilst Victoria and I did the various appointments.

In the midst of all the scan and doctors appointments this week, the news came through that the Starlight Children's Foundation have granted Victoria's wish. Victoria's wish is to go to the snow and throw snowballs at everyone. So on Sunday 4th August, our whole family is off to Mt Buller in Victoria, for 5 nights. Everything is paid for by the Starlight Children's Foundation, travel, accommodation, meals, ski gear hire, lift passes and ski lessons. This is such an amazing opportunity for Victoria and our family. It will certainly help these next 3 months pass more quickly. We are so grateful to all the Starlight Children's Foundations sponsors and people who have donated to this fantastic charity.

Thank you again for the prayers and support that are offered to our family. It all truly helps us to make it through each day.