Saving Sienna and her family xx

Saturday the 8th June very quickly became the day that turned my best friend, Rachel, and her family’s life and world completely upside down. Her 10 year old daughter, Sienna, had been feeling ‘off’ for a couple of weeks and Rachel decided it was time for her to see a doctor. A routine blood test came back with unthinkable results.

Sienna had Leukaemia!!!

What – NO!!! This is not happening!!!

Before night fall Rachel and Sienna were air lifted down from Bundaberg to Brisbane with 2 urgent blood transfusions upon arrival. The very next morning, Rachel’s husband, Dion, with their two sons, Bailey 13, and Jaiden 12, drove the nearly 400km trip to be by Siennas side. What followed would be 2 days of dreadful testing on her little body and confirmation that it was ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia).

Sienna is a happy go lucky 10 year old girl who loves to dance and sing, go camping with her family and play with her friends. All of a sudden this vibrant, beautiful girl was in the fight of her life.


Rachel is a self employed Beauty Therapist who opened her ‘dream business’ 3 years ago, and this year, only 2 months ago, opened a second business right next door. Without Rachel there to work her business and maintain her cash flow, there is no way she can uphold the rental payments as well as all the other day to day bills that do not stop coming in just because you’re not there. There is the real possibility she would have to close her doors or attempt to sell the businesses she has dreamed about for years.

Dion is a FIFO and is due to go back to work in under a week. However, he has been dealt a blow at the worst possible time with a debilitating back injury. This could mean a length of time off of work himself due to this injury. If and when he is fit to return to work he will have no choice but to head back out to keep the family afloat financially. I can’t imagine the strength it would take to do that – going back to work leaving your family at the worst imaginable time. But this is the unfortunate circumstance of real life and financial responsibilities.

They have been told that it will be at least 7 long months before they can return home. It is taking all I am to try and wrap my head around that – 7 months!!! That’s crazy! All that time Sienna will be receiving life saving Chemotherapy treatment, along with weekly lumbar punctures under general anaesthetic and regular scans to monitor the fluid on her heart and lungs. It will ravage her poor little body and she will lose her crown of beautiful long golden blonde hair. But if that is the price to pay to have her running around in her back yard and swimming in her pool again, carefree, then that’s what it is! Anything that works is worth it in the end, right?


This family is ‘THE FAMILY’ that are there to help you, or anyone whenever there is a crisis. Rachel has single handedly been the back bone in many fundraisers herself for different occasions, now is her time to be on the receiving end of the kindness for a change. Rachel has been there for me and my family over the years on several occasions without hesitation, and now it is my time to be there for her, Sienna and their family.

The aim for this GoFundMe is to help them financially overcome the upcoming battles and expenses they will undoubtedly face. If we can cover the costs of life that will continue on the outside world, when they are able to return to their home, then my job is done.

If we are lucky enough to raise enough money, she might be able keep her ‘dream business’ alive while she sits at her desperately ill daughter’s bedside. Obviously living away from home comes with its own challenges and the home expenses do not stop either. So if we can band together and show them what we can do for each other when we are in crisis I will be forever in everyone’s eternal debt.

If we were to raise enough to cover these expenses then Rachel and Dion would be able to devote themselves unreservedly and not have the added pressures of financial stress. If we were to smash this out of the park then this would allow Dion to be able to take the time off work and be with his family when they would need him the most.
Every dollar, great or small would be appreciated and will go a long way to alleviate this family’s financial burden, emotional worry and pain. Please give what you can and share so others can also give what they can.

At this moment life is showing how unfair and cruel it can be – let us be the ones to put faith and gratitude back in their hearts.


XX

Thank you for listening Georgia xx