Advertisement
Home News Real Life

REAL LIFE: How Aussie surfing legend Mick Fanning brought some Christmas magic to one brave boy and his family

''My boy had been through so much.''
Drakeโ€™s Snapchat With Fan During Make-A-Wish Grant
Drakeโ€™s Snapchat With Fan During Make-A-Wish Grant
0 seconds of 8 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:08
00:08
 

Lauren White, 36, from Seacliff Park, SA, shares her story with Take 5:

My son, Ollie, seven, came home from school looking exhausted.

Advertisement

โ€œI donโ€™t feel well,โ€ he said.

It was early March 2019, and Ollie was the most active and energetic kid.

Always on the go with his little sister, Clare, four, he loved riding his scooter and was an avid surfer, catching waves with his dad, Henry, 40, most weekends.

But Ollie didnโ€™t perk up in the weeks that followed.

Advertisement

He lost his appetite, was lethargic, had a tummy ache and his eyes were tinged yellow.

โ€œIโ€™m going to take him to the local GP just to be safe,โ€ I said to Henry.

Ollie hadnโ€™t been well.

(Image: Supplied)

From there, Ollie was referred to the Womenโ€™s and Childrenโ€™s Hospital for blood tests.

Advertisement

They delivered some startling news.

โ€œOllie has acute liver failure,โ€ the specialist said.

My legs buckled.

โ€œThere must be some mistake,โ€ I uttered, distraught.

Advertisement

But there was no denying the tragic truth โ€“ suddenly our lives had been turned upside down as we struggled to believe our boyโ€™s life was now hanging in the balance with a liver transplant the only option to save him.

We were transferred to Royal Childrenโ€™s Hospital in Melbourne, which specialises in paediatric transplants.

Brave Ollie in hospital.

(Image: Supplied)

Ollie was catapulted to the top of the transplant list.

Advertisement

Heโ€™d deteriorated so quickly, with only 24 hours before his liver packed up completely.

By now Ollie was so sick he wasnโ€™t really with it.

Miraculously, the next day a donor liver became available.

โ€œYouโ€™re going to get a new liver to make you better,โ€ I whispered as he was wheeled into theatre.

Advertisement

After the gruelling 10-hour transplant operation, Ollieโ€™s surgery was a success.

While we crumpled with relief, Ollie had a long road to recovery ahead.

The hospital became our world for the next two months as Ollie fought his way back to health.

Make A Wish helped the family.

(Image: Supplied)
Advertisement

Finally, doctors said he could come home and as festive season crept closer, I was contacted by Make a Wish Foundation offering to grant a wish for Ollie after all heโ€™d been through.

It was just what he needed.

โ€œIโ€™d love to surf with Mick Fanning,โ€ he said.

Champion surfer Mick was Ollieโ€™s hero and the Make a Wish team got to work.

Advertisement

Six weeks before Christmas I received a call.

โ€œMick would love to surf with Ollie,โ€ their rep said.

Mick Fanning was happy to help Ollieโ€™s wish come true.

(Image: Supplied)

Mick had even recorded a video message for Ollie saying how much he was looking forward to meeting him.

Advertisement

With Christmas around the corner, I decided to keep it a surprise and play Mickโ€™s message to Ollie on Christmas Day.

Then on December 25, 2020, after weโ€™d had dinner and opened all our pressies, I made an announcement.

โ€œOllie, I have one more present for you,โ€ I said, plugging the USB into the TV.

Eyes widened and jaws dropped when Mick popped up on the screen and Ollie squealed with delight as he listened to the message.

Advertisement

โ€œThis is the best Christmas present ever!โ€ he cried.

In June this year Make a Wish flew us all to Queensland and as we made our way to Green Mount Beach, Coolangatta, Ollie was a bag of nerves.

Finally arriving at the beach, we hopped out and saw Mick standing on the sand looking out at the ocean.

โ€œHey Ollie,โ€ Mick said beaming from ear to ear. โ€œLetโ€™s catch some waves.โ€

Advertisement

Mick and Ollie hit the surf.

(Image: Supplied)

For over an hour Mick made sure other surfers gave way to Ollie as he pushed him on to wave after wave.

โ€œThat was awesome,โ€ Ollie said to Mick afterwards.

As we were about to say goodbye, Mick had other plans.

Advertisement

โ€œFancy getting something to eat?โ€ he said.

Gobbling down pancakes and laughing and joking, we were cherishing every second, then Mick said he had one last surprise.

In the surf shop he owned nearby, he treated Ollie and Clare to a wetsuit and anything else they wanted in the store.

The kids hugged him tight, not wanting to let him go.

Advertisement

Ollie is 10 now and doing well.

Mickโ€™s sprinkling of Christmas magic was Ollieโ€™s all-time best present.

But for me, seeing my son smiling, happy and healthy, is the ultimate Christmas gift โ€“ I couldnโ€™t ask for more.

Aussie Surfer Mick Fanning Shark Attack
Aussie Surfer Mick Fanning Shark Attack
0 seconds of 4 minutes, 41 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
04:41
04:41
 
Advertisement

Related stories


Advertisement
Advertisement