Caitlin's Climb
Donation protected
The first thing I better explain is WHY I'm posting this, and asking for a small donation from you, my friends, in my cousin's name. Why am I climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Saturday June 17th - when I'm afraid of heights and open tread stairs??
It all started with a dream.
Caitlin O Hara is my cousin. She is also my hero, the bravest, strongest, most intelligent and beautiful person I ever had the pleasure to know, to call my family.
At age 2, Caitlin was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. In April 2014, Caitlin was finally listed for a lung transplant. The wait however, was lenghty. In December 2016, Caitlin was admitted to hospital, permanently. Her battle became harder. There were possible lung matches, EMCO, surgeries, prayers. Caitlin's doctor described her as "The sickest person in the United States". And then.... the miracle. On December 18th, Caitlin got her lungs. Her chance to breath. We all waited, praying. I know many of you reading this prayed with us.
The night Cailtin went in for transplant, I hardly slept. I kept checking for updates from her mum's blog, (9livesnotes.com) and praying. In the rare moments of sleep, I dreamed of Caitlin. She was here, in Sydney. She was SO beautiful, full of energy and enthusiasm at exploring the city with me. When we reached the Harbour Bridge, she insisted she had to climb it. "The air will be wonderful up there!" she told me. I will never forget what she said when I told her I was terrified of heights, and open tread stairs. She YELLED at me to stop being afraid - hadn't she faced worse? Was she afraid? I woke before the dream went any further, but I promised her there and then that when she came to visit me, I would climb that bridge and breath that air with her.
The news came, after the transplant, all was looking good for her heart, lungs, kidneys. However, there were problems with her liver, primarily caused due to the lenghty time Caitlin had to wait for the transplant, and wait on ECMO. She faced a massive battle. But her body was too damaged, and on December 20th, our beautiful kitten lost her fight. My hero, my cousin, my friend, was simpy too worn out to battle any more.
The day Cailtin became our angel, I swore I would get over my fear, and climb that bridge. I will walk every one of those 1332 steps for Caitlin. And when I get to the top, I will breath in that air just for her. I turn 40 next week, and this marks the beginning of a new me - making every step - and every breath - count.
Any money raised from my walk will go to the children's Cystic Fibrosis Unit at the John Hunter Hosptial in Newcastle, NSW, where I live.
It all started with a dream.
Caitlin O Hara is my cousin. She is also my hero, the bravest, strongest, most intelligent and beautiful person I ever had the pleasure to know, to call my family.
At age 2, Caitlin was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. In April 2014, Caitlin was finally listed for a lung transplant. The wait however, was lenghty. In December 2016, Caitlin was admitted to hospital, permanently. Her battle became harder. There were possible lung matches, EMCO, surgeries, prayers. Caitlin's doctor described her as "The sickest person in the United States". And then.... the miracle. On December 18th, Caitlin got her lungs. Her chance to breath. We all waited, praying. I know many of you reading this prayed with us.
The night Cailtin went in for transplant, I hardly slept. I kept checking for updates from her mum's blog, (9livesnotes.com) and praying. In the rare moments of sleep, I dreamed of Caitlin. She was here, in Sydney. She was SO beautiful, full of energy and enthusiasm at exploring the city with me. When we reached the Harbour Bridge, she insisted she had to climb it. "The air will be wonderful up there!" she told me. I will never forget what she said when I told her I was terrified of heights, and open tread stairs. She YELLED at me to stop being afraid - hadn't she faced worse? Was she afraid? I woke before the dream went any further, but I promised her there and then that when she came to visit me, I would climb that bridge and breath that air with her.
The news came, after the transplant, all was looking good for her heart, lungs, kidneys. However, there were problems with her liver, primarily caused due to the lenghty time Caitlin had to wait for the transplant, and wait on ECMO. She faced a massive battle. But her body was too damaged, and on December 20th, our beautiful kitten lost her fight. My hero, my cousin, my friend, was simpy too worn out to battle any more.
The day Cailtin became our angel, I swore I would get over my fear, and climb that bridge. I will walk every one of those 1332 steps for Caitlin. And when I get to the top, I will breath in that air just for her. I turn 40 next week, and this marks the beginning of a new me - making every step - and every breath - count.
Any money raised from my walk will go to the children's Cystic Fibrosis Unit at the John Hunter Hosptial in Newcastle, NSW, where I live.
Organizer
Janet Jordan
Organizer
Eleebana NSW
