In May last year, Taylor’s mum Rachelle, 27, was given the heartbreaking news no parent wants to hear – her child had leukaemia.
Just a week later, Jasmine’s mum Vanessa, 37, found out her little girl had the same disease.
The youngsters were immediately transferred to Sydney Children’s Hospital to start chemotherapy.
Jasmine and Taylor hit it off while playing in the hospital’s Starlight Express Room, and it was together that the got through the incredibly difficult year.
“They pretty much became inseparable,” Rachelle quipped about the girls. “That was their little hangout.”
Although Jasmine initially took on a motherly role, she soon realised her younger friend was heaps of fun.
She also took great comfort in knowing someone else just like her was losing their hair too.
“Jasmine had beautiful long hair and losing it was a big deal for her,” Vanessa explained.
Rachelle says Jasmine always managed to cheer Taylor up when she was down, visiting her hospital room and sometimes bringing her little gifts. Having the same treatment meant the girls would talk about what they were going through.
These gorgeous girls now have an unbreakable bond, which has extended to the girls’ mothers, who both found comfort in each other.
“I have supportive friends, but until you’re going through it, you don’t know what it’s like,” Vanessa said. “It will definitely be a lifelong friendship – and not just for the girls, but for Rachelle and me too.”
Taylor and Jasmine are now in the maintenance stage of their treatment. They’re still having chemotherapy, but both girls are out of hospital and returning to daycare and school respectively.
Life may be moving forward, but their friendship follows them everywhere. The girls stay in touch, often sending each other pictures of their new clothes and toys.
Rachelle and Vanessa plan to organise regular catch-ups, despite the 800km distance between them.
“They’ll always have a special connection,” Vanessa smiled.
Starlight Children’s Foundation will celebrate Starlight Day on Friday 1 May 2015, aiming to raise $1.3 million to give the gift of play to more than 30,000 seriously ill children and their families around Australia. To find out how you can help, please visit www.starlight.org.au
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