As an avid animal lover, and a fan of the outdoors, four-year-old Roxy had always been full of energy.
Described by mum Bec as “funny, sassy and gorgeous in every way”, Roxy’s smile could light up a room.
But when Roxy began to spend more time lying on the couch than buzzing around the house, Bec and Roxy’s dad Dylan became wary. A quick check-over revealed bruising on Roxy’s gums, so they made an appointment with her dentist the very next day.
“The dentist was amazing,” says Bec. “He did x-rays which turned out to be all good, but he had a hunch that something else was at play, so organised for a specialist at the local hospital to see her straight away.”
Due to Covid restrictions at the time Dylan was forced to drop Bec and Roxy at the hospital doors and drive home to wait. Just two hours later, after a series of tests, Bec was alone next to a sleeping Roxy when doctors delivered a devastating diagnosis. Roxy had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and they would need to start treatment that evening.
Bec had the heartbreaking task of phoning both Dylan and her parents with the terrible news. “It was so emotional,” recalls Bec.
Over the following three weeks Bec and Roxy stayed in the hospital for treatment, while Dylan stayed home to care for their older children Talon, 9, and Kirra, 8.
Having never been away from her children the separation was particularly hard on Bec, while Dylan juggled work with home schooling and caring for the kids.
Even when Roxy was discharged from the hospital, the impact on the family was enormous.
For the first eight months after her diagnosis, Roxy underwent a heavy regime of chemotherapy. Her treatment meant the family had to be particularly mindful of infection, so Talon and Kirra missed out on having friends over, in case they made Roxy sick.
Dylan and Bec’s life became an exhausting rollercoaster of managing Roxy’s health, caring for Talon and Kirra, supervising home schooling, working, and attending frequent hospital appointments.
For Roxy, the constant needles were terrifying, and life became even more unpredictable as she suffered setbacks with her treatment and was admitted to hospital several times with the flu.
Fortunately, throughout her ordeal, Captain Starlight has always been there to ensure Roxy has had the positive distraction she’s needed to cope.
When Roxy was first admitted, Captain Starlight visited her on the ward to help show her hospital could be a happy place where she could still laugh and play.
On some occasions Covid restrictions prevented Captain Starlight from visiting children directly, but that wasn’t going to stop them spreading happiness and fun!
“Captain Starlight always found a way to find her,” recalls Bec. “Even when they couldn’t visit, the Captains would drop off a bag of craft and other activities and games to keep her occupied, and they’d wave to her through the window in the door of her ward”.
Roxy loved to play virtual bingo with the Captains, and to check out everything that was happening on Starlight TV.
When restrictions and Roxy’s health allowed, she just loved visiting the Starlight Express Room. She loves to create crafty masterpieces, sing along with the ukelele, and is always up for a selfie with the Captains!
“Captain Starlight brings a smile to Roxy’s face every time,” says Bec. “She looks for them around the hospital and they really help brighten her day.”
What would Bec and Dylan say to Starlight’s supporters? Firstly, “a MASSIVE thank you”!
“The Captains brighten the kids’ worlds when they’re feeling bad, and really gives them something to look forward to in hospital. We are so thankful to have had them there for Roxy.”
