
Kid's Stories
Ava, Addison and Jack's Story
Ava, Addison and Jack are three amazing children whose lives were turned upside down when Jack was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

10-year-old Jack was diagnosed out of the blue with acute myeloid leukaemia in May 2017. After successful rounds of chemotherapy, Jack had an urgent need for a bone marrow transplant.
Ava and Addison proved to be identical matches, which doesn’t always happen. In fact, there is only a one in three chance. Both Ava and Addison were desperate to be the donor and help their older brother, but because of Ava’s age she got the nod. Addie was devastated!
Jack was in isolation for 6 weeks after the transplant. All up he was in hospital for about 3 months and then to and from treatment which meant the children’s mum, Kate was away from home for big chunks of the week, staying and sleeping by Jack’s side.
Jack’s diagnosis seriously impacted Ava and Addison, and in fact the whole family. Addie in particular went from being a confident bubbly young girl to feeling scared and insecure about Jack’s illness and her mum’s absence from her world. Ava also had a weight of adult-sized responsibilities and worries on her shoulders and was struggling with what her family were going through.
One of the mum’s at Addie’s school suggested Be Centre to Kate as a place that could help Addie cope with all the upheaval and uncertainty around Jack’s illness. Both Addie and Ava attended Be Centre where they were able to express themselves in the ways they needed to, without judgement in the safe space of the Playroom.
Today, Jack is a brave and inspiring star, playing AFL and soccer again and hatching plans to be a reporter one day.
Kate speaking of their experience at Be Centre:
“The effect of our son's illness was devastating to watch, and it felt like the girls were the forgotten ones. When we needed some extra support, Be Centre was there with the right tools and support. Addie went from being a relaxed, outgoing child to being clingy and anxious. Ava had the responsibility of being her brother’s donor and this played out in various ways at home and at school.
The girls loved their weekly visits and developed trusting relationships with their therapists, Kati and Tjinta. After a few months, the easygoing Addie we thought we had lost emerged and was happy again. Ava also benefitted greatly - Be Centre helped her process her emotions and she began to feel less burdened and much happier. Be Centre really helped us through a difficult time.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me back my beautiful girls.”
