Whether it’s writing, drawing, poetry or cooking, 12-year-old Lucie’s creativity shines bright.
Bilingual in French and English, she loves French comics and has even written a comic book of her own, complete with characters she created.
Her parents Naomi and Stefan are so proud of Lucie’s achievements especially given all the traumatic medical hurdles she has faced.
A week before Christmas in 2017, the family’s world was shattered when four-year-old Lucie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
Lucie had sore legs and difficulties walking, but nothing prepared them for the devastating diagnosis. “It was such a shock to everyone, it felt like our world collapsed,” dad Stefan said.
Lucie was admitted to hospital and started eight months of intensive cancer treatment.
From that moment, every part of life changed as Naomi and Stefan juggled their day-to-day home and work routines to be in hospital for Lucie while also caring for their older son Thomas.
“We knew we needed to do all we could to be there for Lucie and to give her strength she needed in her journey,” Stefan said.
Throughout Lucie’s gruelling treatment, the Starlight Express Room helped bring back moments of childhood fun and happiness that had been missing since her diagnosis. When she was well enough, Lucie played interactive games with other children in the Starlight Express Room and loved getting creative with all the different arts and crafts.
Thomas also loved going to the Starlight Express Room to play whenever he visited his little sister in hospital.
“The Starlight Express Room craft activities were a great distraction for the kids and didn't involve screen time,” mum Naomi said. “To have things to look forward to in hospital makes such a difference; it makes it a much more welcoming place.”
When Lucie’s treatment left her too unwell to leave her hospital bed, Captain Starlight visited the wards with fun and games to help keep her entertained and distracted from the pain and fear of every blood test and procedure.
“The benefits of fun, laughter, and play for kids undergoing treatment are immense. These moments of joy help shift their focus to positive experiences, easing their worries and lifting their spirits,” Lucie’s dad said.
After completing her initial treatment phase, Lucie was on maintenance chemo and was then treatment free.
However, tragically in late 2020, Lucie relapsed.
Instead of getting back to all the things she loved doing, Lucie faced yet more rounds of chemo and radiotherapy before she ultimately received a Bone Marrow Transplant.
“The hardest part for Lucie was to have to go through treatment all over again. It was emotionally very difficult for her, she asked why she had to do it again,” Naomi said.
Sadly, Lucie faced further complications when shortly after the transplant, she suffered a severe immune system response and was placed in ICU. She was unable to talk or move for a number of weeks.
Once out of intensive care, Lucie slowly started to make improvements, but she had to learn how to talk, walk and how to move her limbs again.
“It was such a traumatic time for her having to relearn everything,” mum said.
After so much heartache, Lucie received the exciting news that she’d been granted her Starlight Wish, and it gave her something positive to look forward to.
She immediately got busy with the special wish planning booklet dreaming up her wish!
Lucie wished to visit Uluru, to ride ‘the cutest camel’ and learn more about Indigenous stories.
Lucie’s wish was a special moment for the family, marking the end of Lucie’s treatment.
“It gave us something to celebrate and was a sign that her journey through treatment was over and we could move on.”
Sadly, Lucie’s trip was cut short when she fell ill but she thankfully has made a full recovery.
Today, four years on from her bone marrow transplant and over seven years after her initial diagnosis, Lucie is doing well at school and is busy with choir, her creative hobbies and is continuing to build up her physical strength with gymnastic and sports.
While she still has ongoing medical checks ups to monitor her progress, Lucie is now looking forward to returning to her dream destination in the Northern Territory as part of Starlight and Virgin Australia’s celebration of 15 years of our Wishgranting partnership.
Lucie is excited to share this special trip with her dad and be immersed in the culture, stories and unforgettable adventures ahead.
“We are so thankful Starlight has been there for Lucie throughout this journey. Play and distraction are so important helping to reduce stress and pain and making hospital and medical procedures smoother and less stressful,” Stefan said.
