Nine-year-old Chloe has not had an easy start to life. Diagnosed with Herpes Encephalitis, a degenerative brain disease, at just 20 months old, the young sister of seven was given only a 50 per cent chance of survival.
The illness, more commonly known as ‘cold sores on the brain’ destroys brain cells and as a result severely impacts motor skills – meaning that Chloe had to learn how to walk, talk and eat all over again.
With ongoing treatment essential, Chloe has spent much of her life in and out of hospital, as doctors do all they can to prevent the virus from reoccurring. Although it’s unlikely to come back, there are no guarantees.
“Developmental delay often causes Chloe to become frustrated as she desperately wants to be included with her seven brothers and sisters and finds it difficult to make friends at school,” says Chloe’s mum Helen.
Chloe has always loved the ocean and been fascinated by fish and sealife, so her family have for years dreamt of taking her away to a place she can meet her favourite Disney character, Nemo. With a family of eight however, a holiday of that expense was always more of a pipe dream.
That was until The Starlight Children’s Foundation made the dream of a trip to the Great Barrier Reef a reality. Through the foundation’s Wishgranting program, Chloe was given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal to tropical fish, turtles and coral reef.
“Chloe’s whole personality came alive with the thought of being granted a special wish,” says Helen.
“We as a family cannot express enough gratitude to The Starlight Children’s Foundation and all that they do, in and outside hospitals.”
Give your support
In support of The Starlight Children’s Foundation, celebrities such as Amanda Keller, Natarsha Belling, Magdalena Roze and Matt Doran will tonight battle it out on live TV to sell as many products as possible to the viewing audience.
The Celebrity Challenge, which will be hosted on Television Shopping Network’s Freeview Channel 14, from 7.30 to 9.30 pm on Monday 19th November, is hoping to raise up to $100,000 for the charity.
“We encourage as many people as possible to watch the program on Monday night, back their favourite celebrity and buy the products to help us reach our goal for the The Starlight Children’s Foundation,” said Erin Davis, the Online and PR Manager at the network.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
