IN MEMORIAM

Jaymie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leaukemia (ALL) in July 2008 and sadly passed away in January 2010 through complications with his cancer treatment. Jaymie met Sean at the Royal Childrens Hospital on the day he was diagnosed and they became good friends, supporting each other through the ups and downs of this horrible disease. 

 

In December 2009 he was asked to make a wish for Make-A-Wish Australia. He wanted a small jet boat so that we could take him knee boarding and skiing when he got better. This brought him so much joy and something positive to look forward to. 

 

Unfortunately his health declined and he passed before his wish could come true, in January 2010.
He was 17.

 

Jaymie's other wish was to help other kids going through the same thing. That's why the Make-A-Wish Australia is so important.

It is a privilege to share Jordyn’s story, as it serves to highlight the importance of fundraising, and particularly the continued, amazing efforts by Sean Ewart in “Making Dreams Come True”.
 

Jordyn was born in 1993, a little sister to our son Ryan. Our family was complete.
 

We considered ourselves to be a very ‘ordinary’/ ‘normal’ family. Regular people. Steve and l both worked, the kids ate their vegies, were happy and healthy, went to school, played sports, had friends, laughed, and sometimes annoyed each other - normal family stuff. And in hindsight – all the ‘stuff’ we took for granted.

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In September 2008, Jordy was in year 9 and loved anything to do with sport.  She ran like the wind and represented Victoria in athletics, she played netball and touch rugby until one weekend, she become unwell. A visit to the GP saw her admitted to the Royal Children's’ Hospital, Melbourne. And before the week was out a cancer diagnosis with commencement of chemotherapy treatment.

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Jordyn was 15! 

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If you, or you know someone, who has had cancer inflicted upon them, I’m sure you have heard stories about receiving “THE” diagnosis.
 

Time stops! It is a profound, life changing moment to receive a cancer diagnosis. Then, time starts again, and we each go into our ‘fix it’ modes. Life now is forever known as ‘life before’ and ‘life after’ that diagnosis which in Jordyn’s case was Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
 

I recall the day, the date, the time and the location.  I also recall saying something really dumb in an attempt to lighten a very serious situation. This is the stuff that becomes etched in time, forever. It was at this time some people described Hodgkin’s as the ‘good cancer’ however we all know there’s no such thing.

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15-year-old Jordyn was much the same as most 15-year-olds. Still developing a true sense of herself. Old enough to understand what’s happening. Old enough to have goals and…Young enough to look forward to a life beyond cancer.
 

The version of our 15-year-old girl who first entered the world of hospitals, Doctors, and invasive and painful medical procedures was a terrified, angry and vulnerable Jordyn.
 

Whilst treatments like chemo, and radiation ‘attack’ the cancer, they also cause immense pain and suffering both in the short and long term. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. All races, all genders, and in Australia last year, around 1000 children received a cancer diagnosis! That is profound!
 

In Jordyn’s story, she was incredibly fortunate to receive the hand of friendship through a number of charitable organisations that helped put a part of ‘normal’ back into Jordyn’s life. Though everyone’s cancer journey is different, it was through these charities that Jordyn met many others walking in the same shoes along the same path.
 

Make-A-Wish Australia was an organisation that enabled our family to spend a truly memorable and fun break away to the Gold Coast. It was a blast. We had so much fun and laughter far away from the daily horrors that cancer brings. We still reminisce today.

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There were many people and connections we made through Jordyn’s illness continue to be our friends today. The support, and friendships Jordy found were treasures for her life. 
 

She realised in her last year that it was these friendships that truly gave her the joy and connections she so desperately sought. The long absences from school and sport meant Jordyn was isolated. This meant Jordyn faced a profound sense of loss.

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Having the support to live your best life when you have had your world flipped upside down, to have some normal-ness in their days is essential to life! Kids all need things to look forward to. People to be ‘the new normal’ with. People who get how crap you feel during chemo, people who get how you feel about your loss of independence, people who get how you feel when you’ve got all these physical changes, experiencing the weight gain and loss, along with hair loss …… people who get excited about your new wig.
 

Let’s face it, it’s hard enough being a teenager. But being a teenager with cancer really sucks.

Being with fun people that can transport you to another world...one of fun and laughter...one that allows them to tuck away their fears and sadness and to concentrate on having fun to put those smiles back on their faces.
 

As a parent, it’s your job to protect and care for your child! You don’t ever want to see them in pain… and if you do, you want to be able to ease their suffering. As a parent of a child with cancer, you realise that some things are out of your hands, and we often felt powerless!

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Jordyn remains our inspiration….… She dared to dream…….she lived life on her terms and her motto was simple…… Every time her dream broke into a thousand pieces she was never afraid to pick up that one piece and start again.
 

Heartbreakingly, Jordyn’s life ended at home on the 12th February 2012.

1250 days after that diagnosis.
 

Yes indeed Cancer Sucks!

Lynette Curtis
Forever Mum to Jordyn