<div>Sophie’s Fight for Life
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<div>Hi, I’m a close friend of Sophie’s family, and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart to share her story and ask for your support.
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<div>Sophie is a bright, kind, and courageous 17-year-old who has been through an unimaginable ordeal. What started as a simple school trip to help the homeless turned into a life-threatening medical emergency that has left her fighting for every breath.
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<div>It All Began with a School Mission
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<div>On Thursday, 26 June, Sophie travelled to Brisbane with her school to volunteer at homeless shelters. She was so excited to be part of something meaningful and gave it her all.
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<div>But just a couple of days later, she started feeling unwell. By Sunday, she was home with a high fever and tested positive for Influenza A. Despite being sick, Sophie was still her sweet, loving self—smiling through the discomfort.
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<div>A Rapid Decline
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<div>Over the next few days, Sophie’s condition worsened. She was vomiting, in pain, and struggling to breathe. Despite multiple visits to the hospital, she was sent home twice—her symptoms dismissed as just the flu.
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<div>Then, in the early hours of Thursday, 3 July, Sophie woke in severe distress. She was rushed back to hospital, and this time, things escalated quickly. She began vomiting blood, her breathing deteriorated, and she was on the brink of cardiac arrest.
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<div>A Parent’s Worst Nightmare
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<div>Sophie was rushed to Tweed Hospital under lights and sirens. There, doctors told her family the unthinkable: she wouldn’t survive without being placed on an ECMO machine—a last-resort life support system. Even then, her chances were slim.
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<div>She suffered two cardiac arrests and a severe lung haemorrhage. Her family was given a chance to say goodbye before she was stabilised and transferred to Gold Coast University Hospital.
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<div>Weeks in ICU
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<div>Sophie has now been in ICU for over 9 weeks. She’s endured septic shock, kidney failure, lung damage, and countless procedures. She’s still on full life support, including ECMO and dialysis. Her lungs were so badly infected that they developed holes—something no one could have predicted from the flu.
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<div>Despite all this, Sophie is fighting. Every day, she shows incredible strength and resilience. She’s slowly being brought out of sedation, starting physio, and learning to sit, stand, and walk again—all while still connected to machines and surrounded by a team of doctors and nurses who now feel like family.
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<div>A Birthday in ICU
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<div>Sophie turned 17 in ICU. She’s missed school, friends, work, and all the little things that make life feel normal. Her sister Chloe has been by her side, singing to her, brushing her hair, and bringing comfort in the darkest moments. Her dad and sister travel back and forth from Ballina on weekends, while her mum stays by her side every single day.
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<div>Why We Need Your Help
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<div>Sophie’s journey is far from over. The road to recovery will be long, uncertain, and incredibly tough—physically, emotionally, and financially. Her family has put everything on hold to be with her, and the costs are mounting.
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<div>We’re asking for your help to support Sophie and her family through this time. Your donation will go towards:
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<div>Medical and rehabilitation expenses
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<div>Travel and accommodation for her family
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<div>Ongoing care and support as Sophie begins her recovery
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<div>No one should have to go through what Sophie is enduring. But with your help, we can ease the burden and give her the best chance at healing.
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<div>Thank you for reading Sophie’s story. Please donate if you can, and share this page to help us spread the word. Every bit of support means the world.
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<div>With love and gratitude,
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<div>Tere
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Vann Hart

Anonymous

Christine Roberts

Pauline Armour

Casey Brown

Xavier Catholic College

Lloyd Dempsey

Emily Comin

Sandra Kirchen

Lisa Baker

nick henry

Kirra Gordon

James Ashby

John Zollo

Lisa Dokter

FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE.

FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE.

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