Tired after a busy day playing with his trucks and dinosaurs, mum Sarah popped 18-month-old Eden down for his usual nap.
When Eden woke up, he suddenly couldn’t walk. Worried when there was no improvement and her usually cheeky, happy little toddler was crying in pain, Sarah took Eden to the GP.
Suspecting a hip infection, they were sent for tests at the local hospital in Gosford.
Tragically tests revealed Eden had leukaemia. He was rushed to the Sydney Children’s Hospital that same night.
The shock left Sarah and dad Stephen shattered as they tried to come to terms with Eden's diagnosis.
"I couldn’t take it all in. It felt like the world was closing in and I couldn't escape," Sarah says.
Eden spent the next two months in hospital full-time. It was heartbreaking being away from his big sister Charlotte and dad back home.
Eden's treatment left him exhausted, in pain and often too unwell to leave his bed.
"Eden is usually so active playing with all his cars and diggers. It was really hard to see him stuck in hospital for weeks on end, constantly being poked and prodded," mum said.
Sarah ultimately had to relocate to Sydney to be near the hospital for Eden's ongoing treatment. For 15 long months, the family felt torn in two.
Thankfully when the family visited Eden in hospital, they had the Starlight Express Room. Charlotte enjoyed spending time in the Starlight Express Room playing games and doing arts and crafts. Sarah said it helped make the visits much easier having a place where they could take a break.
"Starlight helps bring a bit of fun and happiness into kids' lives and picks them up when they really need it."
While Eden is home now and doing well, he has ongoing tests at checks-ups in hospital.
After dealing with so much pain and sadness, the family received the exciting news that Eden had been granted his Starlight Wish.
For his wish, Eden wanted to meet all his local emergency services heroes and see inside a real fire engine, ambulance and police car.
Sarah said in the lead up to his wish, they were all so excited and Eden couldn't wait to try out all the sirens!
When his big day arrived, Eden couldn't believe his eyes. His local park was filled with police cars, motorbikes, ambulance vehicles, fire trucks and even a cherry picker.
Eden loved meeting all his heroes, sitting in the cars, playing with the flashing lights and chatting on the walkie-talkies. Wearing his special fire chief helmet, he even got to run under the all-time greatest sprinklers thanks to the fire truck hose!
"Eden's wish was better than we could have ever imagined. To see him so happy means the world to us," " dad Stephen said.
While there was so much action on the ground, a special surprise was flying in the sky. The Westpac Rescue helicopter landed in the park to help make Eden's day.
His mum and dad said the memories from Eden's wish will stay with them forever and joked that the photos and videos will come out at Eden's 21st!
"Eden's Starlight Wish has helped turn a really sad situation around. We will always look back on this day and remember how happy he was. A massive thanks to Starlight supporters and to everyone who helped make this happen for us," Sarah said.
A very big thank you goes to all the local emergency services heroes who so kindly came together to help create Eden’s unforgettable Starlight Wish. True heroes!
