Make a donation to BoQ’s Banking on our Kids’ appeal this month and you’ll help sick Aussie kids get better, faster.  Donations can be made at any Bank of Queensland branch or online.

So show how big your heart is, and make a donation today!

Entitled “My Heart is Yours” the piece features two characters passing a heart between them.  The plate is a limited edition, with each piece individually numbered by hand in gold.  The plates are $49.50 (plus postage and handling) and are available from www.tradingpost.com.au and if you are in Victoria, the plates are available until Mother’s Day from Bay Road Nursery, 112 Bay Road, Sandringham (03 9521 0197).

Our sincere thanks to Trading Post who have provided the online store FOC - thank you!!!! For more info click here.

“All year round, I love wearing dark, moody nail polish shades.  When creating my polishes I decided to take two of my favourite winter hues and turn up the volume by adding a touch of shimmer”, explains Jessica.

Bloom launched the new Designer Collection polishes with an in-store performance by Jessica at the Sydney Myer store.  Here is Jessica at the following signing:

For more info go to Bloom’s media release here

We will be taking 6 very special children to be our CHFA Ambassador to each Sunday game to be televised from 4pm on Channel 9.  Each of the club’s involved will be going to great lengths to make our ambassadors, all either current or previous patients still receiving outpatient care, feel extra special on the day.  Below is a diary of each round that we have been lucky enough to be involved with.

Round 1 - Sydney Roosters vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sunday March 15, 2009

Our first very special ambassador was Ed Pickard, pictured here with his Mum, Melinda, who both attended the Roosters vs Souths game .  Ed had the great honour of calling the toss of the coin for the match - a 1942 penny was used no less!  Our thanks to the Roosters for the opportunity for Ed - unforgettable!  Ed has cystic fibrosis and is receiving treatment as an inpatient at Sydney Children’s Hospital.  In year 7, Ed loves his footy, and was thrilled to be at the game on Sunday.  He’s had a bit of a hard week following the game with surgery on Wednesday, but, as always, is positive and never loses the smile on his face!  An amazing person, and a fantastic ambassador for CHFA.  Big hugs Ed!

Round 2 - Manly Sea Eagles vs. New Zealand Warriors, Sunday March 22, 2009

Dale Davey was our most very special guest at this Sunday’s game.  A huge Manly fan, Dale comes from Cootamundra and is currently receiving treatment for a brain tumour at Sydney Children’s Hospital.  Pictured here with one of his favourite players Dave (Wolfman) Williams,  Dale ran the tee on for Manly on Sunday - a great thrill for him and his dad Andrew who attended the game also.  Dale - it was a pleasure to take you to the game on Sunday, you are a very special person and we are thrilled you had a great time.  Here is a big shout out to your team mates in Cootamundra! 

 

Bailey Cantrill (the biggest Sharks supporter we know!) was our very special guest at this week’s game.  Pictured here with his best friend Samuel who also attended the game, Bailey had the thrill of running the match ball out in front of his beloved Sharks as they took on St George Illawarra at Jubilee Oval.  Bailey has been receiving treatment  for leukaemia and is currently in remission.  Thanks Bailey - we hope you had a great time!

We were thrilled that nine year old Vanessa Liang was able to be our ambassador for the Round 4 game in Newcastle.  Vanessa and her family travelled from Sydney to be part of the day with Vanessa’s 10 year old big sister Stephanie there to help.  Both girls were thrilled to be able to put the match ball on the tee for the game.  Vanessa contracted pneumococcal meningitis when she was 7 months old leading to several medical complications that left her outlook very grim.  However through Vanessa’s determination and care network she has defied the odds and it is her family’s hope she will live a relatively independent life.  Thank you Vanessa for your company at Newcastle!

Round 5 - Manly Sea Eagles vs. Wests Tigers, Sunday April 12, 2009

Our very special guest this week was Matthew Wood from Sydney.  Matthew suffers from a number of complex health conditions and has recently been bed-ridden with the after effects of coming into contact with the Epstein-Barr virus.  We were thrilled that Matthew, his brother David and Mum Elaine were able to attend the Manly game as our guests.  Matthew loves his Manly team and this was his first visit to Brookvale Oval.  Matthew was able to take the game ball out onto the field for his team and sat in the crowd to watch them win their first game of the season.  We’re really glad you could join us Matthew and thanks to the Manly Club for making it such a great day!

Round 6 - Parramatta Eels vs. Canterbury Bulldogs, Sunday April 19, 2009

Liam Flinn (pictured here with Dad Jeff) were our guests at the game this Sunday.  When he was first born Liam was diagnosed with a genetics disorder that affects his fine motor skills and ability to contract his muscles.  He attends hospital each month for treatment.  Liam was extremely excited to be at the game - he said to his Mum “this is going to be the best day of my life!”.  We sure hope running the match ball out ahead of your favourite team the Bulldogs was magical for you Liam!

We’ve come to the end of our wonderful time with the NRL and would sincerely like to thank the wonderful One Community team for the opportunity to attend these games in 2009.  Thank you to the NRL for being such a fantastic supporter of CHFA for the past 3 years - it has been extremely memorable for many of our wonderful children and their families.

You can help us spread this message by sending this link to your friends, families and work colleagues.

Our sincere thanks to our creative and supportive friends at De Pasquale in Brisbane who have put this together for CHFA pro bono and to Black Market Rhythm Co. who provided the music.

Generously supported by a host of sponsors, supplying food, soft drink and entertainment, White and approximately 30  other riders toughed it out for several hours before the winner was announced.

Spokesperson for Cam White, Michelle Cochrane, said “Cam wants his jam to have not only a positive effect on the BMX event circuit, but also to raise money and awareness for such a great charity.  This is the first year we have supported CHFA and we are really pleased with the results”.  Money was raised by way of a $5 entry fee, BBQ and raffle, with all proceeds being donated to Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia.

Cam White is Australia’s leading BMX champion, spending half his time competing in the USA and the other half in Australia.  For more information visit www.cambmx.com.

The operation was a success.  Owen’s frightened parents Vicky and Glen were relieved after three stressful days in the Intensive Care Unit, to have their tiny baby in their arms and recovering on the ward after the traumatic start to Owen’s life.

“Owen’s condition means that he has trouble keeping food down and at three months despite all our best efforts he was failing to gain weight which was  a major concern.  We travelled back to Sydney Children’s Hospital to meet with the Digestive Tract Diseases Unit for their specialist care and advice,” said Vicky.

At Sydney Children’s Hospital, Owen received nourishment through a nasogastric tube and underwent major abdominal surgery to wrap his stomach around his food pipe to prevent him from rejecting food.  Owen also had a gastronomy button inserted into his abdomen and was fed directly through the tube into his stomach.

Owen is now at pre-school and loves riding his bike and playing with his brothers and sister.  He still uses the feeding pump at night and gradually over time, doctors hope that he will eat regularly and maintain his weight.

“Over the past four years, there have been many ups and downs with Owen’s health and multiple admissions and surgeries.  If it wasn’t for the Digestive Tract Diseases Unit I don’t know where we’d be - they have been so accessible, professional and dedicated to helping Owen,” said Vicky.