We are grateful

This is just a quick update to say thank you everyone who has been praying for Victoria and our family for the past week, and for all the encouraging messages of support. 

Our weekend away with Camp Quality was the perfect place for us to be. The camp was held at a Christian conference centre and all the main rooms displayed the poster above - what a wonderful reminder to us throughout each day that Jesus has come to give us life, and life to the full. Once again we were grateful for another example of God's grace and a reminder that He is with us wherever we go.

We certainly did live each day to the full at camp, including the Christmas in July disco on Saturday night, where Ken spent most of the night on the dance floor with one of the girls. It was excellent to get away, dance, laugh, explore and have fun as a family. We are so grateful to Camp Quality and all they do to support families who are doing this difficult journey.

Please continue to pray for God's peace for Victoria as she struggles with anxiety and fatigue. We, as parents, need so much wisdom to help her continue to live her life to the full, in spite of the negative emotions and tiredness, and to meet the needs of our three other children as best as possible.

Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 

And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul reassured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 AMP

We are grateful that we aren't alone on this journey. We are grateful to our God who makes His peace so readily available to us. We are grateful to you for standing with us. Thank you.

PS: We are also very grateful for my mother visiting from Auckland and the awesome spring clean she is giving our home!

Victoria Grace

We have been loving the word 'stable', but this week we heard another word that we didn't want to hear.

Victoria's scan was scheduled for next week. However I had put her on the MRI cancellation list, just in case there was a cancellation and she could have the scan in the school holidays rather than interrupting the first week back at school. On Sunday afternoon the hospital phoned to say that there was a cancellation on Monday 10.30 and did we want it. No hesitation - yes. 

Victoria hadn't experienced any anxiety leading up to this scan, and we wanted to do all we could to keep it that way for her. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for her regarding the anxiety.

On Monday morning Victoria did the scan perfectly, being the champion that she is. We had the expectation that we would have to wait until next Thursday to get the results, but there was a cancellation for the oncologist on Tuesday, the day after the scan, so we were able to get the results on Tuesday this week. 

God has been gracious to us, as few people knew the scan had been rescheduled, we have been able to start to process these results in our time and space. 

Once again, as He done many times in this journey, God had gone before us and pre-organised the support we would need on that day. Firstly, the family that was looking after one of our children while we went to the hospital appointment, knew first hand what it is like to get this sort of news. When we picked the child up, there was no need for words, the mum knew exactly how I was feeling - that is grace. 

Tuesday afternoon had a meeting scheduled at the Camp Quality office to review the videos we had done for the Dine at Mine campaign. (if you are considering participating in Dine at Mine, please do so, Camp Quality is an amazing organisation. We have set up a team, called - The Conquerors, please join it). We decided, despite the news we had received, to continue with the meeting. The Camp Quality staff were fantastic, occupying the children, giving Ken and I the privacy of an office to cry and talk, to cry and talk, and cry some more. During the talking one of the staff mentioned that someone they knew had heard my Mothers Day talk at church and was greatly impacted by it - that is grace.

On hearing of the impact of what I had shared on Mothers Day, I thought, 'Okay God, You are all over this. Despite the circumstance you have and will continue to work all things together for good. I am choosing to continue to put my trust in you.'

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labour] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28 AMP

While talking with Camp Quality staff, they said there had been a couple of cancellations at a Sydney camp this weekend, and offered us the opportunity to go the camp. We are going, and we are going to have fun and laugh as a family - that is grace.

So while this news is not the news we wanted to hear, we will continue to pray and believe for complete healing for Victoria Grace. We will continue to endeavour to live our lives to the full despite these circumstances. We will continue to look for things daily to be thankful for.

Be happy [in  your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 AMP

We have much to be thankful for including:

1. Victoria experiencing no anxiety leading up this scan.

2. The cancellations that allowed the scan to be done earlier, so we could have time as a family to process the results.

3. The change in the tumour does not require treatment at this stage. Another scan will be done in three months time.

4. Camp Quality and all who donate to that organisation, enabling people to provide staff and programs that greatly assist families in this situation.

5. You, family and friends who continue to stand with us in prayer and support our family in many different ways.

6. Our God, and the grace and love He continually pours out on us.

Victoria is aware of the change, as are all our children. She has had questions, which we have answered. Satisfied with the answer, she continues on with whatever activity she is doing. We will continue to be open and honest with her, and encourage her to look for things in her life to be thankful for, and to see and know God's love for her.

The next scan is scheduled for 30th September, getting the results on 6th October. 

If you feel led to pray for Victoria and our family, here are some prayer points:

1. That Victoria will continue to know in her heart that she is loved by God.

2. God's perfect peace to reign in Victoria and our family

3. Complete disintegration of the tumour in Jesus Name

4. Complete healing in Victoria's body, in Jesus Name

Again, we claim Victoria's name sake over her life - Victoria - Conqueror, Victor, Grace - Favour and Blessing.

Finally, if you are involved in our daily life here in Lake Macquarie / Newcastle, we ask that you please do not talk about this change with Ken and I in front of our children. As I said, our children are aware of what has changed, but they do not need to hear about it continually. Of course, if you see Ken or I without the children, we are more than happy to talk and pray with you about it, well probably 'cry and pray' is more accurate. Thank you for respecting this request.

Finally, finally, here is one the scriptures that God gave me for this year. I pray it will encourage you, especially at this time, as God's word continues to encourage me daily.

Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength! Let everything you do be done in love (true love to God and man as inspired by God's love for us). 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 AMP

Living life to the full

Here is Victoria up at the John Hunter Hospital waiting for her monthly port-a-cath flush. We don't like to waste a minute so she is working on her maths homework while waiting. As you can see she is still not phased by the hospital environment, partly due to the wonderful doctors and nurses who are so caring and supportive.

Victoria is continuing to do well in her every day life. Physically she is doing her daily stretches and improving her fine motor skills through the ipad typing. We are focusing on improving bi-lateral movement with arms, and it so happens that cooking is an excellent activity for involving two arms and hands. The bonus is that Victoria enjoys cooking, so there are no complaints about doing that therapy.

Riding for the Disabled is also continuing on Monday mornings. The Regional Mounted Games are on 1st August and this year Victoria will compete 'off lead', which means she will be doing all the steering and horse instruction herself. It is such a fantastic activity for building the core strength, leg, arm and hand muscles. Victoria now has enough strength to give Sprinkles a good 'kick' to tell him to 'walk on'. She is an absolute joy to watch on the horse.

In May we helped out Camp Quality with some marketing for their Dine at Mine national fundraising campaign, coming up in August / September. If you are interested in finding out more about this event or participating in this event, click here . The programs Camp Quality run have made a significant impact on each member of our family, providing much needed family fun and the opportunity through various activities to re-build confidence. Camp Quality activities have also enabled us to connect with other families in similar situations, outside of the hospital environment. We will be hosting one at our home, and our children are also going to host some meals for their friends. 

During this term Marshall, Charlotte and I have been attending a group called 'Sibsrule'. This group 'focuses on building resilient family units that have strong capacity to advocate for the needs of a member of that family relating to disability. We do this by developing skills of functional self awareness, and optimistic communication.'  It focuses particularly on the needs of siblings with a sibling who has a disability. Two out of the three of us were very reluctant to attend the group! However as the weeks passed it became evident that attendance at the group was very necessary, as it provided an opportunity to let more grief surface for each of us - 4.5 years on from Victoria's diagnosis. It has been a very emotional time, yet I believe we are all much more emotionally healthy from our participation, no matter how difficult it has been. The group finishes this week with a game at Laser Tag. I don't think there will be any problems getting them to the group this week.

Talking about resilient family units, here are the children  when we went down to see the VIVID light festival in Sydney. We are so proud of each of them and the resilience they have all developed and the courage they have each shown in their own way. We love to see the strong bonds of love between each of them (of course it isn't evident all the time!). We are grateful to God for His grace in each of our lives and that He is always with us, wherever we go. We know that truth in our hearts.

Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 AMP

On Mothers' Day I was given the opportunity to share at church, along with two other amazing mums, some of our journey of having a child with cancer. The theme I was given was - what to do when things don't go to plan. If you are interested in listening to what I shared, please click on this link, and it will take you to the podcast - Mother's Day - Live on the lounge - 10 May.

Victoria's next scan is four week's away, on 22nd July. My mind has started to travel down those dark paths, so it is a moment by moment decision to pull them back on the path of faith and hope. 

We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 The Message

I am thinking I will declare this verse every day (and hour if necessary) for the next four weeks! Victoria is blissfully unaware of the upcoming scan, and with three weeks of holidays prior to it, hopefully the anxiety will stay at bay for her. 

Thank you for continuing to pray for Victoria and our family. Specific prayer points at this time include:
1. Peace for each of us, particularly Victoria, as the scan approaches.
2. Victoria to know that God loves her and is always there for her.
3. Complete healing and restoration throughout Victoria's body.
4. Continual emotionally healthy processing of grief for every member of our family.

Love
Ken, Wendy, Marshall, Charlotte, Victoria and Alexandra

Triumph, tears and trust

As you can see by this photo Victoria is continuing to live life to the full. During the April school holidays Victoria and Charlotte went on a Camp Quality Camp. Victoria is pictured here with her wonderful companion Naida, who made sure that they synchronized the colour of the camp quality shirts each day. Victoria had a fabulous time at the camp, drumming, rock-climbing, ten pin bowling and doing copious amounts of craft. I know I have said it before, but I will say it again, we are so grateful to Camp Quality, the organisers', volunteers and people who make donations. They have helped our family immensely.  

Camp Quality also arrange Family Fun days. In April there is was a family fun day at the Toboggan Hill Park at Nelson Bay. Once again we all had great fun, lots of laughs and screams!

The park also had other activities such as hot ice skating, which all the children participated in. 

It was great to see them each set themselves goals on the 'ice', and achieve them according to their various abilities. Another new experience for them all, thanks to Camp Quality.

Victoria's strength and range of movement of her left arm and leg continues to improve. She is very diligent in doing her one hour of stretching each day. In the holidays we took advantage of the non-school time to do some extra physical therapy, alternating daily between hydrotherapy, bike-riding and scootering. Thankfully Victoria enjoys all these activities and is motivated by goal setting. With the bike-riding, she rode 4.3km in 54 minutes, and at the next session she reduced her time by 4 minutes. She is yet to reach her goal of riding without training wheels, but is continuing to work hard on building her strength up in her left leg. Balance is the real challenge for her, but we will continue to try.

There has been a lot going on for Victoria on the occupational therapy front too, with a view to reducing the amount of handwriting due to physical and cognitive tiredness. The alternative strategy is to use an ipad for narrative writing etc. So now Victoria is practicing typing each day too. Practicing the typing for 'typings sake' but also for the strengthening of the fingers on her left hand, to enable the smallest two fingers to move independently of each other rather than together. It is amazing how much one little body needs to do to remain physically functional. 

After only six weeks of daily typing practice, a review by the occupational therapist this week, left the OT speechless as she saw the improvement in strength and isolation movement in Victoria's left fingers. As for me, it bought tears to my eyes to see her reaction. Victoria works so hard at all these activities. And they do put extra load on our family ( I am not complaining, it is just a fact!), making time to fit these daily exercises into an already busy household. They also reduce the time I can spend with our other children. Thankfully we have received some funding to enable someone to come twice a week to help out with the exercises. This has made a big difference to our afternoons, and provided some variety for Victoria, and allowing me to spend more time with the other children.

The grim reality of some childhood cancers has been very much top of mind over the past couple of weeks, as a beautiful little girl who we have gotten to know over the past few years passed away. She was a champion who battled neuroblastoma from the age of 8 months for 7.5 years. Her family has been an inspiration to many who have entered this journey in that time period, including us. At the Celebration of her life last week a poem was shared called The Brave Little Soul by John Alessi. If you have ever wondered why children especially, have to endure such suffering, I feel it is worth reading. It may to help make sense of why there is such suffering. Click on this link if want to read it - The Brave Little Soul. It could be a good idea to have a box of tissues near by.

There are many practical things we can do to help those who are suffering with cancer, and one is to give blood. On Monday when I gave blood I read that 34% of all blood products donated are used by cancer patients. So if you are physically able to give blood, I encourage you to please give and give regularly. One donation can potentially save up to three lives. We have a Club Red group called The Conquerors, which has currently potentially saved 90 lives! So if you are going to give, please join our group - The Conquerors.

Thank you for continuing to uphold Victoria and our family in prayer. We know that it is by the grace of God alone that she is still with us today, and thriving despite the tumour and its impacts. Some days are definitely tougher than others, particularly over the past few weeks, but we continue to put our hope and trust in our God. This quote sums up how it is some days ....

Sometimes belief is off in the sunshine while I'm coated in fog, cold and uncertain, trapped by a sky that feels too heavy to penetrate. But hope lives here, still; God's Word on my brittle heart, full of possibility, already dripping through the cracks. (from Found by Micha Boyett  p143)

Thank you for praying for us, loving and supporting us. We will continue to declare - Victoria - victory and conqueror, Grace - favour and blessing.

Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him. Proverbs 30:5 AMP

Results and Riding

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Victoria. The scan process on Monday went extremely smoothly, in fact each step happened early! Victoria was her normal cheery self, choosing to wear her Onesy which bought many smiles to staff and patients traversing the corridors of the John Hunter Hospital.

Thank you to everyone who sent messages of support and encouragement, and to my Mum and Dad who were here to support us at all the hospital visits. 

The MRI indicated that the tumour is stable, which means no more treatment is necessary at this stage. The next scan is booked for July 22, 2015. We are so grateful to God for this result, and for another four treatment-free months! We are also grateful that Victoria experienced virtually no anxiety leading up to the scan. The rest of us travelled well until 'results' day, and then I, in particular, fell apart! Next time, I will have to follow Victoria's example.

The goal of riding the 50km section of the Loop the Lake served as a fantastic distraction for me in the lead up to the scan. We crossed the finish line with much satisfaction. It was great to ride the last couple of the kilometres with the family, including Marshall on his skateboard. Thank you to Jenny who rode with me on the Loop the Lake, and to Kris, my weekly riding partner who helped me get to a level of fitness that meant I had no sore muscles anywhere after the ride.  And thank you to my parents, Ken's parents and Robyn for coming to welcome us across the finish line. It was a fantastic family event, and hopefully raised a lot of money for the John Hunter Children's Hospital.

So, getting back to Victoria, we are still on this roller coaster ride, with the blessing of larger 'straights' now. We will continue to trust God in this journey, knowing that He loves Victoria even more than we do. I have been reading the book 'Emotionally Healthy Spirituality' by Peter Scazzero, and have just started Chapter seven - Enlarge your soul through grief and loss. Today, I wanted to share these couple of paragraphs,

'Our culture routinely interprets losses as alien invasions that interrupt our 'normal' lives. We numb our pain through denial, blaming, rationalisation, addictions, and avoidance. We search for spiritual shortcuts around our wounds. We demand others take away our pain. 

Yet we all face many deaths within out lives. The choice is whether these deaths will be terminal (crushing our spirit and life) or open us up to new possibilities and depths of transformation in Christ.' page 135-136

For our family, we are choosing the latter. We are choosing to stand on Christ our Rock, and let Him transform us through this circumstance.

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging in us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. 

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:22-28 The Message

Thank you for standing with us, supporting us through prayer, messages of support and practical help. We are so grateful to have you in our lives and on this journey with us.

Be brave, trust God

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.  Psalm 23:6 AMP

The other day we were looking through each child's box of "special things". In Victoria's box we found the invitation to her Dedication when she was a baby. Psalm 23:6 was the scripture God had given us to put on the invitation. What truth this scripture has been in her short life so far! God's goodness, mercy and unfailing love has been so evident in her life. That huge scar on Victoria's head that you can see in the above photo is testimony to God's unfailing love for her, an unfailing love He has for all His children.

Thank you to everyone who has been upholding Victoria and our family in prayer as we draw closer to another scan. A couple of weeks ago Victoria was asking every day, 'What day is my scan Mum?' 'How many more sleeps until my scan Mum?' It was clear that the upcoming scan was consuming much of her thinking. So I thought, if that is what she is thinking about, lets not just ignore it, let's get it out there, 'front and centre'. So after some consultation with her teacher, I decided to make a 'Scan countdown chart', similar to a Christmas Calendar. But instead of opening windows with dates, on each day I wrote a positive activity that was going to occur on that day.

The aim was for Victoria to know for herself exactly when the scan was going to happen, but also to know that there were many positive things going on in her life too. The chart has worked wonderfully. Victoria has great delight reading it each day to see what is going to be happening.

The Loop the Lake training has certainly helped to keep my mind focused. I can highly recommend setting a physical goal to help keep the anxiety at bay. We are looking forward to a memorable family day on Sunday. Please pray for our safety as we ride.

In early February we went to a Camp Quality family camp at Toukley, about 45 minutes south of here. Once again we had a fabulous weekend, with lots of activities to participate in, surfing, tennis, water gun fights and a visit from a reptile zoo. Thank you so much to all the volunteers and people who donate to Camp Quality to make these camps become a reality, and such a necessity for families experiencing childhood cancer. Alexandra and Victoria enjoyed making and flying kites.

Saturday afternoon two Redkite social workers came to facilitate a parents discussion group. I was unsure whether emotionally I could cope with the discussion group. I couldn't stop thinking about one of the scriptures God has given me as a 'theme' for this year is 1 Chronicles 28:20,

Also David told Solomon his son, Be strong and courageous, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

Basically in my mind I have summed this scripture up in four words, be brave, trust God. So with that scripture top of mind I attended the group. It was confronting, and emotional, and I had to be brave to stay in the room. But I was glad that I did, as later during the camp, because I had stayed and listened, I was able to have some very fruitful conversations, leading to the deepening of relationships. 

Sunday morning at the camp Marshall, Charlotte and I headed over to the Giant Swing activity.

Charlotte was the first of the three of us to have a go. She went two thirds of the way to the top.

The Giant Swing involves being harnessed, attached to a long rope, being hauled by the 'tow team' (the other campers) to a height of 18 metres (or less if that is what you want), and then self-releasing the rope, free falling before swinging!

Marshall went second.
He went two thirds of the way to the top.

Following on with the theme of 'be brave, trust God' I went third, all the way to the top! One kind parent videoed my swing ..... click here to watch the video. While it was absolutely terrifying free falling, I was so thrilled that I did it. 

In the weeks since 'the swing' there have been a few situations I have had to face where I have thought back to the moment I pulled the cord to release the rope, and thought, Yes, I can do this, I can be brave. I can trust God to get me through this.

One of those situations involved the writing of my book about our journey with Victoria and the brain tumour. I had been progressing well with it, until I reached the part about her brain surgery (the day prior, the operation day and the post op day). It has taken me four months to get the courage to write about those three days, knowing that I would have to re-live all the emotions as I recalled the conversations, the waiting, the unknowns and the fears. Reading the 'be brave, trust God' scriptures God had given me (they are in various places around our home) and remembering how good it felt once I had let go of the rope on the Giant Swing and was swinging through the air, gave me the courage to 'push through' and write about those three days. I finished writing that segment yesterday, and now I feel so elated! I did it! Yes, it was emotional and exhausting. But having completed that section, I now feel encouraged and even excited about continuing on with the book, praying that it will inspire and encourage others.

So thank you again for everyone who is praying for Victoria and our family. The lead up to this scan has been the most peaceful ever, especially for Victoria. As you know, the scan in on Monday 9th March, and we will get the results of Tuesday 10th March. 

We continue to claim Victoria's namesake over her life - Victoria - victorious, conqueror; Grace - blessing and favour. And we declare God's goodness, mercy and unfailing love over her.  Thank you for standing with us.

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.  Psalm 23:6 AMP

Casting your cares

January 2015, sitting here in our garden, is a testimony of God's grace and faithfulness, four years since the diagnosis of a brain tumour. We continually praise God for all He has done in each of our lives.

O Lord God of hosts, who is a mighty one like unto You, O Lord? And Your faithfulness is round about You [as essential part of You at all times]. Psalm 89:7 AMP

Thank you to everyone who has in the past four years helped our family, either through prayer, practical or emotional support. The love and encouragement we have received has greatly helped us to continue each day, reminding us that we are not alone.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. 1 Corinthians 13:7 AMP

Victoria has started the year filled with joy, so looking forward to school and other various activities. It has been great to have the scan frequency changed to four months. This change has enabled Victoria to start school without the distraction of 'pre-scan anxiety' and various follow-up appointments. Her next scan is booked for March 9th, and we will get the results of March 10th. We continue to pray for another "Treatment free" year for Victoria, and indeed our whole family. 

In the past I have started to experience anxiety regarding the scan about three or two weeks prior to the MRI day. So I was quite taken aback last week (five weeks out), when I felt a wave of fear overcome me. It was triggered by two things. Firstly, seeing our children so amazingly happy and content with their lives as they returned to school. The fear that this contentment could change should Victoria have to undergo treatment again. Secondly, by a comment from one of our children, 'Mum, When I was in Year #, you didn't really care about me'. What do you say? Year # was 2012 Victoria was in the middle of treatment. Our family was in survival mode. I responded to our child, with 'Yes, I did care about you, but I didn't have the capacity to give you what you needed'. I don't want to return to that place.

So once again I am gearing up for battle in my mind, to overcome the fear, in Jesus Name. This scripture is one I am definitely meditating on most days.

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. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times, for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset - rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:7-9 AMP

For the readers of this blog who I see regularly, over these next five weeks, when you see me, please don't ask me how I am. Rather, please pray for me and our family. Thank you.

To help my mind focus elsewhere, I have set myself the physical goal of riding the 50 km section of the Loop the Lake fundraising event for The John Hunter Children's Hospital. This is the hospital that we have gotten to know and love over the past four years. Even if it takes me all day to ride the 50km, I am determined to complete the ride. The ride takes place on Sunday 8th March, the day before Victoria's scan, perfect timing! I will be so exhausted on Monday, hopefully I won't even have the energy to be anxious! I will have my faithful family support team in food and drinks van travelling with me. 

If you live nearby and want to join in, please let me know. There is the 85km route around the whole lake, the 50km part route, and the 16km 'easy route', or you can start wherever you want to. Ken and our children will be getting on their bikes at Warners Bay and and we will ride the last couple of kms together to the finish line at Speers Point Park. 

Regarding the Christmas Campaign PR Victoria did for the Starlight Children's Foundation, whilst we do not have an overall total, we do know that the Trade Secret shops alone raised over $95,000 for the Starlight Children's Foundation, with their Christmas, Round Up Your Sale. This enables 14 seriously ill children to be granted their wishes. Thank you to everyone who donated to this campaign, you have helped to make a tangible difference in these children's lives.

If you are eligible, please remember to Give Blood, and join The Conquerors group. Our group has now made enough donations to have potentially saved 81 lives! This is another way you can help make a tangible difference in the lives of many people, including many children in the oncology wards around Australia. 

Thank you again for your continued prayers and support for Victoria and our family.