Member of the Month July 2025

Imogen-Leigh is just 8 years old, but she has already shown more courage and resilience than many do in a lifetime. Her journey began with two long years of medical uncertainty. It wasn’t until July 2024 that she was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia — a rare and life-threatening condition. Since then, her life has been a whirlwind of treatments, hospital stays, and sacrifices.

On April 29th, Imogen underwent a life-changing stem cell transplant. Since then, she has made incredible progress. Remarkably, she now has 100% donor cells — a testament to her strength and the success of her treatment. 

"[She is] so brave and courageous she shows so much resilience, she just continues to shine"

Despite everything she’s been through — including losing her hair, which she now affectionately jokes about by calling herself a “smooth tomato” — Imogen-Leigh never lets her spirit dim. She often says, "Bald is brave," and carries herself with pride and humour, lighting up the room with her energy.

For over a year, her young life was put on hold. She couldn’t attend school, enjoy holidays, play in parks, or even drink tap water. Instead, her days were filled with platelet transfusions, blood tests, and hospital visits. But through it all, she remained hopeful and strong.

Now, there's finally light at the end of the tunnel. Imogen has slowly started to return to a sense of normalcy. She’s spending more time outside, riding her bike, soaking in the sunshine, and playing with her brother. She has also begun easing back into education, attending one-on-one sessions with a home tuition teacher in a private classroom for an hour each day. After missing all of Year 3, the hope is that she’ll return to school full-time in September — a huge milestone for her and her family.

Imogen continues to inspire everyone around her with her strength, bravery, and big heart. Her journey is far from over, but every day she proves that even the youngest warriors can fight the biggest battles.