Harper's story

"I was thinking they’re all wrong. There is no way that it is cancer. She's not even two."

The moment her daughter Harper was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, mum Eliza said their world collapsed.

"Harper had bronchiolitis which she struggled to recover from. But when blood tests came back showing leukaemia we were crushed. Everything snowballed from there," she said. Harper was admitted to hospital to start treatment straight away. She needed a port inserted into her chest for chemotherapy to be administrated. The trauma of constant blood tests and needles was overwhelming. "We basically had to hold her down each time to help keep her little body still. It was so hard seeing her like that," Eliza recalls.

Harper's treatment caused muscle weakness in her legs, meaning she wasn't able to walk. As a toddler, it was impossible for her to understand why she suddenly couldn't do all the things she used to do.

"It was a very traumatic experience for her. Harper is four now and she's basically grown up with hospital and medical treatment - it's all she’s ever known."

While the family was coming to terms with their new world of hospital and treatment, Starlight was there with moments of fun and happiness helping them cope with the pain and fear. The highlight of Harper's day was seeing Captain Starlight on the hospital ward or visiting the Starlight Express Room when she was well enough to leave her bed. Laughing and playing games with Captain Starlight gave Harper a break from her gruelling treatment, and she could do all the fun things with them that she did before she got sick.

"We love Starlight," Eliza says. "We would always make sure we knew what activities were on in the Starlight Express Room - it gave Harper something exciting to look forward to and she always loves seeing what the Captains were cooking in the kitchen! Starlight helps kids understand that hospital visits don’t always need to be feared."

When so much of her life was consumed with hospital, Harper missed out on things like family birthdays and celebrations. Thankfully the Starlight Express Room gave the family the space to reconnect and spend valuable time together away from the stress of hospital.

"Being able to engage in activities with family members within the Starlight Express Room helped keep our minds off being sad," Eliza said. "Starlight makes walking through those hospital doors that much easier."

Despite all she has been through, Harper is an outgoing, confident child who loves playing 'mum' to baby sister Adeline. She enjoys riding her bike, reading books and cuddling her pet guinea pigs.

Harper is happiest being at home with her family.

Sadly, Christmas 2018 saw Harper admitted to hospital after suddenly developing a fever. It was heartbreaking for her not to be with her family at home. The family did not even get to ring in 2020 together as Harper was admitted to hospital for a fever about a week after Adeline was born in 2019.

"All she wanted was to be with us. It was sad for us to not be all together, but given everything else that could be wrong, we were glad she was well enough and could enjoy some of the festivities in hospital." While Harper has finished the first stage of her active treatment, she will have ongoing blood tests and checks ups until 2023. It is still not recommended for a child in her position to return to pre-school at this time either.

Eliza says with hospital remaining part of their lives, Starlight plays a critical role.

"Starlight is crucial to the treatment plan and getting through hospital life. It helps your mind relax because your child relaxes and has some fun. Starlight reminds you that you can be happy and find light in a dark situation."

"Hospital would not have the shine to it that is has without Starlight around."

Eliza is so thankful to Starlight supporters helping to make hospital a much brighter place for sick kids and their families.

"Thank you feels way too understated but thank you for supporting Starlight and helping families like ours to de-stress and find happiness with our children in the hardest days of our lives."