At just seven years old, Imi has already accomplished so much. She has earned a special bravery award, passed her Level 1 swimming, learned to cook alongside her dad, is mastering writing her name, and has made wonderful new friends. Her infectious laugh, bright smile, and radiant personality light up every room she enters.
Yet behind her cheerful demeanor lies a story of extraordinary resilience. Imi has endured over 40 medical procedures and surgeries, including multiple major brain surgeries, hip and hand operations, and a bone marrow transplant. She was born with Fanconi Anaemia (FA), an extremely rare genetic condition that causes multiple physical abnormalities, including abnormal bones in her arms and thumbs, smaller or missing organs, heart defects, bone marrow failure, and an increased risk of cancer.
During Rachael’s pregnancy, doctors warned that her baby might have a genetic disorder, but the diagnosis was only confirmed when Imi was six months old. “We were absolutely devastated,” Rachael recalls. “Because it’s so rare, we had to do a lot of research — few people in Australia have ever heard of it or understand it.”
Imi lives with multiple complex health challenges. She has a VP shunt to relieve pressure on her brain, organ issues, intellectual disability, speech and vision delays, ADHD, and a compromised immune system that leaves her highly vulnerable to infections. Her life revolves around hospital visits and treatments, including countless x-rays, blood tests, CT scans, and MRIs. “We don’t have a routine,” Rachael explains. “We always run on how Imi is feeling when she wakes up and plan the day accordingly. We can’t make forward plans because Imi is so often in hospital.”
Hospital visits are overwhelming and frightening for Imi. She fears needles and struggles emotionally with being different from other children, missing out on the regular activities her peers enjoy. “Imi doesn’t have the stamina to do all the activities other kids do. We rarely get to socialise because we live in our own little bubble to keep her safe from germs,” Rachael says.
Amid so much pain and anxiety, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been a beacon of joy and support. “The Captain Starlights have been amazing,” Rachael says. “When Imi was having a really bad day with dressing changes and IV drips, they gave her a bravery award cape and hat. They’ve always eased her anxiety before appointments.”
When Imi must remain in isolation, the Captains visit her bedside with jokes, songs, and games to make her laugh. “Without Starlight, hospital days would be very long and boring. Having the Captains visit helps release pain and stress and allows us to forget, even for a little while, that we are in hospital,” Rachael explains.
The Starlight Express Room has become a sanctuary for Imi. She loves the arts and crafts, gaming, quizzes, and the opportunity to just play. These experiences are vital for a child who misses out on socialisation due to illness and hospitalisation. The room offers Imi moments of normalcy, creativity, and joy amid her challenging medical journey.
One of the most transformative experiences for Imi and her family was her Starlight Wish. Imi wished for a family holiday to the Gold Coast as part of Starlight’s Wish Week. This magical week allowed the family to escape hospital routines, share quality time, and connect with other families experiencing similar challenges. “The wish was beyond our dreams,” Rachael recalls. “Imi said it was the ‘best time ever,’ and she even celebrated her birthday that week, which was the icing on the cake!”
Wish Week provided the family with a rare opportunity to simply be together, to focus on fun, laughter, and connection rather than illness. It gave Imi and her parents, Russell and Rachael, a chance to recharge, make memories, and experience the joy every child deserves. “It helped us forget hospital for a little while and concentrate on being a family,” Rachael says.
Imi’s journey is a remarkable testament to resilience, courage, and the importance of play, joy, and support in a child’s recovery. Through countless hospital visits, procedures, and challenges, her spirit remains unbroken. With Starlight by her side, Imi can be a child first — laughing, playing, and creating memories — even in the midst of one of the toughest battles a child can face.
Her story reminds us that moments of joy are essential to healing, that courage can exist in even the smallest hearts, and that the laughter, play, and support provided by programs like Starlight transform the hospital experience for children and families alike.
A Childhood Stolen by Pain: A Family’s Plea for Help.3224
From the very beginning, our son’s life was meant to be full of light, laughter, and discovery. Born healthy and bright-eyed, we imagined the ordinary joys of childhood—first steps, first words, and carefree days of play. But all of that changed when he was only one month old.
It began subtly, with tiny bumps on his skin. At first, we thought little of them—maybe a minor irritation, a harmless rash. But the bumps quickly multiplied and became unbearably itchy. Each day, the redness and swelling spread further, until what had been small spots turned into open, weeping sores covering his entire body. His head, arms, legs, fingers, and wrists were affected. Nothing could stop it. Even his tiny toes were not spared.
We soon realized that this was more than just a skin condition. It was a disease that stole the simple pleasures of childhood. He cannot play like other children. Running, crawling, or even walking is a challenge because each step and every touch brings pain. Even small movements tear at his wounds, leaving him crying and exhausted. Ordinary moments that most children take for granted have become a battle for him.
The medical reality is daunting. He has a disability certificate, confirming the severity of his condition. His daily life revolves around pain management, constant care, and attempts to provide some relief. And yet, despite the medicine, the ointments, and our love, the suffering persists. To ease his discomfort even slightly, he needs specialized, costly ointments that are out of our reach. The monthly cost alone is approximately 1,000 złoty—a sum that feels impossible for our family to bear.
We are not alone in our struggle. We have an older daughter who also faces daily challenges—she lives with epilepsy and requires constant care, medications, and attention. Balancing her needs alongside our son’s has been overwhelming, both emotionally and financially. Each day is a test of endurance, a careful balancing act to ensure that neither child suffers due to lack of support or resources.
Our hearts ache as we watch our little boy endure so much at such a young age. He does not understand why his body hurts, why he cannot play freely, or why everyday activities are painful. His eyes, full of innocence and trust, ask questions we cannot answer. He deserves to be a child—to laugh, to explore, to play with his sister and friends, and to experience the joy and wonder of life. Instead, he is trapped in a cycle of pain, treatment, and struggle, where every day is a challenge just to survive.
Despite the difficulties, our son’s spirit has not been broken. He smiles when he can, he reaches out to touch us, and he responds to love with the strength that surprises everyone who meets him. His courage is remarkable, and his resilience humbles us. Yet, courage alone cannot heal him. Without medical support and access to the ointments that ease his pain, his suffering will continue unabated.
We are reaching out now with a plea for help. We cannot provide the care he needs alone. Every donation, every act of kindness, and every bit of support can make a difference in his life. The ointments, medical supplies, and care he requires are essential—not luxuries. They are the tools that allow him to have even the smallest measure of comfort, the ability to move without agony, and the chance to experience the normal joys of childhood.
Our hope is that compassionate hearts will stand with us, so that our son can be a child again, even if only for a little while. We dream of the day he can run without pain, crawl without worry, and explore the world as children should. We dream of laughter filling our home instead of cries of discomfort. We dream of him sleeping peacefully, waking refreshed, and feeling free from the constant torment that has dominated his young life.
This is more than a medical struggle. It is a fight for dignity, for childhood, and for the innocence every child deserves. Each day we spend by his side is a reminder of how precious life is and how cruel it can be when illness steals even the simplest joys. We are determined to do everything possible to help him, but we cannot do it alone.
To everyone reading this, we humbly ask for your help. Your support, prayers, and generosity can give our son a chance—not just to survive, but to experience moments of comfort and joy that are so desperately needed. No contribution is too small, and every gesture carries the power to transform his world from one of constant pain to one of hope and relief.
Our son deserves a childhood. He deserves a life not defined by suffering. And we, as his parents, will fight alongside him with every ounce of strength we have. Please, join us in this battle. Together, we can make a difference.
Thank you for opening your hearts. Thank you for believing in the chance for a brighter, less painful future for our son. Thank you for giving him hope.
