Petra

Petra was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in 2005 at the age of 16. She relapsed in July 2007 and underwent a double cord blood transplant in January 2008.

“I am glad I went through this experience, because I have changed as a person and I realise now what is really important. It has opened my eyes, given me more confidence and a completely new outlook on life. I am a more positive person because I know I have beaten this thing“.

When diagnosed in June 2005 Petra was in Year 11 and about to go to Macedonia with her Mum in 3 days time.

How life changed from that point on! The trip was cancelled and she never went back to school.

“It was a total shock when I was diagnosed. I was so scared, but gradually I started to understand about my cancer and the treatment I would need. I became more confident and had a completely new outlook on life. I had very long hair and it was such a shock loosing it at first. It’s the first indicator to people that you are sick and I hated that. Later on, I realised that losing my hair was nothing and I then used to shave my own head”.

Petra is an extremely talented singer; recently winning a competition at the Macedonian Festival with an original song, landing her a free trip to Macedonia to make up for the trip she missed out on.

While on ‘Maintenance’, the final phase of the treatment process; this vivacious young girl chaperoned 18 kids also going through cancer treatment, to ‘Santa’s Kingdom‘ last December, a day out organised by Cure Our Kids.

In order to thank Petra for all the help she had given us and the fundraising she has done in the past, selling Cure Our Kids merchandise as well as her own hand-made jewellery at her uncle’s fruit stand, Cure Our Kids brought her a brand new Laptop computer fitted out with Wireless Broadband Internet.

Now Petra will be able to keep in touch with all her mates in Sydney and Overseas while recovering in isolation.