Member of the Month February 2025

In February 2023, the lives of Lynne's family changed forever when their eldest daughter Riley was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) at just three years old. What was once a normal life was suddenly replaced by hospital visits, gruelling chemotherapy sessions, rounds of steroids and multiple visits to the 'sleepy doctor'. 

Riley faced her treatment with incredible strength, enduring each stage with a resilience that amazed those around her. Her family went from the freedom of daily routines to living between hospital stays and appointments, trying to adjust to this new reality. It was a difficult transition, but they held onto hope as she fought her battle. Just as they thought they could see a light at the end of the tunnel, with Riley having only a year left of maintenance treatment, their world was shattered again.

Georgie, their youngest daughter, had just turned one when the devastating news arrived—she too had been diagnosed with ALL. The disbelief was overwhelming. How could this be happening again? The family was already struggling to cope with one child undergoing treatment, and now both of their precious daughters were fighting the same battle. It was almost too much to process.

Despite the heartbreak, they found solace in the strength of their girls. Georgie bravely stepped into treatment with her big sister showing her the ropes. The sight of Riley, despite everything she had been through, guiding her little sister through this unimaginable journey was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. As a family, they did their best to stay strong, but the emotional weight of it all was immense.

During Riley’s first week in the hospital, a member of the play team introduced the family to Beads of Courage. They quickly embraced the concept, collecting beads for every milestone, procedure, and challenge Riley faced. As her treatment continued, her string of beads grew longer and longer, each one representing her incredible bravery and endurance. When Georgie began her treatment, she started her own bead journey from scratch, serving as a tangible reminder of her own strength.

"Both of our girls absolutely love their beads. I keep the tally and we sort and string them on together. Riley (now age 5) has 715 days of beads & Georgie (age 2) has 284 days of beads."

As they look ahead, Riley is set to complete her treatment this year, and Georgie will soon enter the maintenance phase. Though these past two years have been the hardest of their lives, their parents couldn’t be prouder of their daughters. Their strength, courage, and determination inspire everyone around them daily.

"The beads of courage shows us visually just how brave and amazing they both are. They help myself & Ryan process what's happened to them. Although this has been the hardest 2 years so far, of our lives, we honestly couldn't be more proud of both of them. Our hearts are so full for our amazing girls."