I will never forget the day I walked up to Eugenia at Family
Camp. Her children were paddling in canoes with the others,
splashing and laughing. Eugenia was just standing on the other side
of the river with tears streaming down her face. I asked her if she
was alright. She shared with me that this was the first time she
had been out of the house for two years apart from school and
hospital. Her tears were tears of joy.
Eugenia had arrived in the Illawarra from a refugee camp in
Liberia with two sons, two daughters and the son of her brother.
Her husband had joined her from the refugee camp, and two daughters
had died from infection and malnutrition. When they arrived they
had nothing and spoke very little English. Within a short time the
eldest child Tom was diagnosed with leukaemia. Thanks to the social
worker at the Sydney Children's Hospital they were introduced to
us.
Tom was going well until a relapse resulted in the need for a
bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately neither his family nor anyone
on the Bone Marrow Register was compatible so he had to undergo
another round of chemotherapy. Despite having to spend so much time
in Sydney in hospital we have been able to help the family
experience lots of joy.
After living in emergency housing the Department of Housing has
found them a place to call their own. A grant we secured enabled us
to take Eugenia out to buy furniture and help them move in and
create a home. Whilst the financial help is important, it's the
friendship that makes it special.
Ann Tanks
Illawarra Area Manager