By Cameron Weston
TAKING a break from daily life is a pleasure that most people enjoy, but for youngsters battling illness, these moments have a special significance.
Brandon Fiorini from Altona Meadows receives treatment for a blood disorder that undermines his immune system.
The Starlight Children’s Foundation organised for Brandon, his father Charles and his brother Aaron, to take a boat ride up the Yarra River to Docklands in December, fulfilling a wish and giving the family the chance for some time out together.
Brandon said he wanted to take a boat ride “just to see what it was like”, and loved seeing the West Gate Bridge from below as he passed under it on his way up river.
He said the Starlight Children’s Foundation had become a wonderful part of his life over the past few years.
“Knowing that they are always there is great.
“If you ask them to do something, they will always try and help you out.”
Brandon’s mum, Mary Ann Fiorini said the trip had been planned a few weeks before, and was the latest of a series of day trips, which have included outings to rugby games and city fire stations.
“Life for the kids would be pretty boring if they didn’t have these activities. They really need to get out and do things and have the chance to escape for a while.”
Ms Fiorini said Brandon leads a normal life, attending school and living much like other kids his age, with the exception of regular hospital visits, which will be a life-long requirement.
“I don’t wrap him up in cotton wool or anything. He does all the normal things that any other kid does.
“He sees other kids with similar problems and enjoys things he wouldn’t normally experience in life.
“He loves being around the other kids and the staff are just brilliant.”
The Starlight Chidlren’s Foundation’s program manager, Sean Coleman said the program aimed to create moments of pure escapism, when the kids – and their families – could forget about their problems and become lost in the moment, if only temporarily.
“Families with sick kids very rarely plan any time out for themselves. All their time and effort tends to be devoted to looking after the child, treatment, hospitalisation and looking after other children.
“So when they get a phone call saying, ‘Come out, everything is organised’ and all they have to do is turn up, it’s pretty fantastic for them,” Mr Coleman said.
