Meet Braxton. A seven-year-old West Coast fan from Alice Springs, who loves swimming and watching rugby and football.
Just before his first birthday, Braxton started having difficulty breathing and was rushed from his home in Alice Springs to Adelaide for emergency treatment.
Uncovering an infection that was attacking the left side of his heart, doctors discovered that Braxton required a heart transplant, and the family had to make the difficult decision to relocate to Melbourne while he waited for his heart.
Sadly, during the seven gruelling months on the transplant list, Braxton had two strokes and bleeding in his brain, which resulted in his inability to move and speak and was ultimately diagnosed with congenital movement disorder, Cerebral Palsy.
"I was heart-broken. We nearly lost him a couple of times during those harrowing few months. After his second stoke and he couldn’t move anymore, it completely broke me. I knew he would never be able to do what the other kids could do." said mum Michelle.
While thankfully Braxton's heart ended up healing on its own, the family had to make the huge emotional, physical, and financial adjustment to Braxton’s new 'normal'.
Braxton needs round-the-clock care, with mum Michelle having to leave work to support his daily needs. The past six years have been a routine of daily medication, doctor's appointments and hospital visits fitting in around the schedules of a busy family.
Coming from a big family with seven brothers and sisters, Braxton fortunately has plenty of love and action around him. Although physically limited and non-verbal, mum Michelle affectionately describes Braxton as "emotive, laughs a lot, and loves having attention and people around him".
Prone to regular chest infections, Braxton also recently had a hip replacement and has been recovering from a leg fracture and Pancreatitis.
Traveling regularly between Alice Springs, Adelaide and Melbourne for treatment, Captain Starlight and the Starlight Express Room became a huge part of the family's daily world.
"When Braxton was having treatment in Melbourne, he loved playing family feud on Starlight TV. He wasn't able to leave his room, so it was nice that he was still able to be involved from his bedside. Braxton loves all the attention he gets from the Captains - especially how silly and entertaining they are."
Without Starlight, mum says, the hospital experience would be "very dull and boring. I don't think kids would get through it without the fun and laughter. They have a big impact on children. Starlight brings their spirits up."
Braxton also had a life-changing Starlight Wish last month.
With a love for animals, action movies and loud noises, Braxton and his family travelled to the Gold Coast for their first ever family holiday together.
The whole family had an incredible time exploring the theme parks and making special memories together. Highlights included meeting Batman, going on rides, watching a crazy car race at Movie World, and having a special encounter with a seal at Sea World.
"We're so appreciative of what Starlight has done for the whole family. We wouldn't have been able to go on this family holiday without them." - Michelle, Braxton's mum
