By NICOLE VALICEK
EVERY TIME a child rings a chime in a Florida medical facility, it echoes as a reminder of the battle and spirit of one special girl.
Seven-year-old Newport girl Audrey Anderson, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour located in the centre of her brain called a Craniopharyngioma in March 2011.
Upon weighing their options, the family discovered that the treatment technology had progressed some 30 years in the USA compared with that available in Australia.
“The indicators of impact on her full life potential were very alarming,” mother Sue said.
“With some information now on board, we then set about pursuing a path for proton therapy in the USA and realising the enormity of the situation both physically and financially.”
“Precision planning and encouragement for Audrey resulted in her having the confidence and trust to undertake her whole treatment without anaesthetic.”
Among the support for Audrey and the family was the arts therapy program run by an Artist in Residence at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute.
“This was the most significant therapy of all, healing and connecting families and patients through conversations and creativity, more powerful than any machine in that marvellous building.”
Before leaving Florida, the family requested that the facility receive the gift of a chime.
“Audrey has been such an inspiration to us as a family and we have a strong need to support others and pass on the giving that we gratefully accepted.”
“On leaving Florida, we requested permission from the medical board to gift the facility with a chime that reflects the spirit of hope and achievement in the battles that so many have with cancer.”
The idea was immediately embraced and working closely with the Artist in Residence the sound of hope from “Audrey’s Chime” became a reality.
Today, children who finish their treatment get to ring the chime in celebration.
The local hero recently celebrated another triumph after graduating from the Ronald McDonald Learning Program.
She entered the learning program after missing a lot of school as a result of her treatment.
Sue said the program had really carried Audrey through her schooling.
A core program of Ronald McDonald House Charities, the program supports the educational needs of children recovering from serious illness by providing individual, tailored tutoring programs for up to one year.
