Sayel, now 18, from Sydney, was Starlight’s 10,000 Wish, in 2017
As a kid, Sayel’s favourite TV show was Highway Patrol. Sy’s hero was Sergeant Mick McCrann and he loved dressing up in his own policeman outfit to be just like him.
Now age 18, Sy smiles as he recalls how much he loved the show, “I watched it over and over and thought Sgt Mick was so cool!”
Sy’s childhood of bike riding, rollerblading and playing with his sisters and friends was suddenly turned on its head when he suffered a major seizure. He was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with Complex Epilepsy.
The shock was unimaginable for the close-knit family. Sy had endured brain surgeries when he was little, but the diagnosis left them reeling.
“We didn’t know anyone with Epilepsy, so it was a very steep learning curve trying to understand what we were dealing with,” his mum Lisa said.
Instantly Sy’s world was filled with the pain, fear and anxiety of hospital.
The biggest impact on family life was the long, exhausting days in hospital. Lisa or Sy’s dad Feras always stayed overnight in hospital which was hard on Sy’s sisters Grace and Adelaide who missed their little brother terribly. Looking back, Sy said the hardest part at the time was not understanding what was happening and the loss of control.
Thankfully, Starlight was there during this traumatic time for the family.
Lisa said, “Starlight is there like a ray of sunshine in what can be the darkest times in a child’s life.”
Sy loved going to the Starlight Express Room to have a break from the wards and have fun with the Captain Starlight.
“It was the one place in hospital I could forget about being sick and just be a kid,” Sy says.
Sy missed out on so many childhood experiences and it was hard not being able to do the things other kids his age were doing. After the sadness of so much time in hospital, Sy remembers the joy of the moment he was told his Starlight Wish had been granted.
“I was so excited when I found out about my wish. I thought wow I’m going to meet Mick McCrann, how cool is that! It felt very special,” he said.
Sy, then age 10 wished to meet his Highway Patrol TV idol Sergeant Mick McCrann and be his police Partner for the day. Sy’s wish was an extra celebration as the 10,000th Starlight Wish granted. Sy and his family headed off for an unforgettable adventure where Sy got to meet his hero and spent time with the AFP learning all about what it takes to be a police officer.
He also got to see behind the scenes at the Police Dog Squad and Mounted Branch, then headed out in a police boat with the Victorian Water Police. Riding in a police car with a siren and pretending to pull his dad over for speeding was an absolute highlight of his wish!
Sy was given his own police uniform, complete with hat and badge and in a special celebration ceremony he was sworn in as ‘Sargent Sy’ in the Victorian Police! The smile on Sy’s face said it all. He also went home with a package of gifts and memorabilia to remember his wish for years to come
“Everyone involved in the wish was incredible and so caring. I loved driving around in the police car and meeting Sgt Mick! My wish was a bright spot in a sometimes-scary existence,” Sy said.
Sy is currently studying at TAFE and loves playing soccer and squash. He has ongoing tests and medical consultations to manage his health conditions.
The family kindly continue to support Starlight to help brighten the lives of more children with serious illness.
And Sy’s wish today? “I wish every sick kid got to do what I did- thank you so much.”
