Jasmina's Story 

Six years ago, a three year old girl named Jasmina had a serious stroke as a result of complications after surgery to remove a brain tumour - one of the youngest children in Australia to do so. Over the next few months, as Jasmina recovered, she became a regular visitor to the Starlight Express Room.

Over the past six years Jasmina has undergone numerous major brain operations. When Jasmina is told that she has to undergo another operation her response is, “Yes! That means I get to go to Starlight again!”   

Each time Jasmina undergoes surgery she stays in hospital for many weeks. On one occasion she had to learn to walk again. Last time Jasmina was in hospital her mother Gini told us that Jasmina’s recovery goal was to be able to walk to the Starlight Express Room by the end of the week. 

Later that week, we got a big surprise when Jasmina walked herself through the Starlight Express Room’s door. She spent the rest of the day enjoying the craft, games and playing with Captain Starlight. She said "You guys can call me Captain Wobbly!" 

Four years ago, when little Jasmina was in for brain surgery, Captain Starlight made up a little song about her and kept singing it to her on the Starlight Channel.

When Jasmina came back to hospital recently, a nurse came into her room and said “I remember your song Jasmina, the one that the Captains made for you” and the nurse sang it word for word! Jasmina couldn’t even remember all the words and was surprised that the nurse remembered it so well. Jasmina thought it was very cool that everyone remembered her song.