Four years to this day, my very courageous niece Qiara was still recovering from heart failure, collapsed lungs and an entire shutdown of her cardiovascular and respiratory systems due to complications that very few doctors had heard of. She was still in an induced coma several days after when the Randwick Children's Hospital doctors prepared us all for the worst.
By the grace of God, relentless efforts by wonderful medical staff and her amazing mother's refusal to give up, Qiara made it to her 5th birthday just six weeks after she was hospitalised. She has grown up to be the strong, vivacious, funny and clever little lady she is today. Although Qiara will probably live the rest of her life with the rare condition plastic bronchitis - a little known bronchial syndrome that somehow results from a faulty heart - her battle to live like any other healthy and happy girl is as persistent as her big beautiful heart!
In keeping a promise I made to myself for the miracle that is her, this year I pledge to shave all my hair off on her 9th birthday (6th June 2015) and give all money raised to Vision Australia. As requested by Qiara, she would donate to "blind children who can't see all the beautiful things in life." And I agree. Getting a buzz cut is hardly trouble compared with the determination it takes to get around in a world heavily geared towards a sense of vision.
I have four weeks until 'B-Day" starting now, and I will be posting regular updates so keep an eye out for them!
As always, there are countless causes worthy of your hard-earned dollars so I hope you will consider pledging just one or two here. Any donation that you can make to my fundraising page is hugely appreciated.
Moreover, so there is less 'competition' for your moolah, I promise to match EVERY DOLLAR RAISED and donate to the families of Nepal whose lives are shattered as a result of the recent earthquake devastation (charity to be confirmed).
I'll leave you with just THREE good reasons to start donating now:
1. Most of us have many reasons to be thankful and our ability to see is probably one of them. Your donation will positively impact the lives of those with varying degrees of vision loss, including children and people who need help with basic services you and I take for granted.
2. Remember for every dollar you donate, I'll pass on another to Nepal
3. Every person who kindly donates will be in the running to win the lucky prize of helping to shave my head! (transport and accommodation for out-of-town residents not included!)
Click 'Donate Now' to make a secure online donation.