For our friend Vanessa Owen and her family

I have no idea how to write this.

My friends the Owen’s are the type of friends you hear people refer to as their family. My friendship with Brett stretches nearly 40 years and his family, Vanessa, Billie and Ellie are family to Nicole, Archie and myself.

On Monday 12th December, Brett’s most awesome wife Vanessa went to the emergency room where they live in the Pilbara with an unusually sore and swollen throat, and just hours later was on an RFDS flight to ICU in Perth where she has been for a week now. Vanessa had a very rare and extreme reaction to a Strep A infection which got into her blood causing toxic shock, where the body literally starts shutting itself down to fight an extreme infection. It has been touch and go for a week for Vanessa, and while still super critical she is stable and signs are positive that she will pull through.

But this fight has taken a huge toll on her body and unfortunately she has suffered some life changing physical injuries that will make for a very long road to recovery. If you are keeping up with Brett’s updates you’ll understand that her recovery is going to be a road probably measured in months and years not days and weeks and one that will require unbelievable commitment, meaning extended time off work, Brett and the girls living away from home for an extended period and likely relocating their life back to Perth. Then there is the intensive medical care and physical rehabilitation Vanessa will undertake for her and her family to get back their family life.

Both Vanessa and Brett have a huge circle of friends and I know Brett has been overwhelmed with the love and support that they have received this week. I have personally had many people contact me to ask whether they could provide any financial assistance and so I am setting up this go fund me to give people that opportunity. With all that Vanessa, Brett, Billie and Ellie are currently dealing with I know it will be appreciated.