Isabella’s wish granted

By Danielle Galvin
A TRIP to the Gold Coast was a welcome gift for a young Bunyip family.
The Cardinia-Casey branch of the Make-A-Wish Foundation gave four-year-old Isabella a special theme park holiday for a week with her brothers, cousin and mum.
Isabella has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and has endured two years of treatment.
Her mum, Louise Adamiak-Nadenbousch, said the trip was fantastic but also a bit exhausting thanks to the host of activities on their list of things to do.
“We went to Australia Zoo on a guided tour. We fed the elephants by ourselves with the keepers,” she said.
The family visited Dreamworld, White Water World, Movie World and Dream World during the January getaway.
“Isabella loved it. She loved going on all the rides and the water slides,” Louise said.
When Isabella, affectionately known as Izzy, was diagnosed, Louise remembers people telling her about Make-A-Wish and their work with children and young people diagnosed with serious illnesses.
“I just thought there were plenty of other families worse off than us,” she said.
Isabella has chemotherapy daily in tablet form. It’s been a lot to take for the youngster, but her family have been a big support.
“She’s doing really well. She’s tired a lot, but she’s doing well,” Louise said.
Isabella started kindergarten this year and her mum says the Bunyip community have been a big support.
“I find that the kindy and the school are very aware. They tell me when there’s cases of chicken pox that might affect her health, they make sure I know what’s going on,” she said.
The Queensland trip, organised by the local Make-A-Wish Foundation, meant there was no out-of-pocket expenses for Louise.
“We had everything taken care of. Airport transfers, flights, accommodation, meal allowances and petrol all paid for. We even had $50 to spend on a present,” she said.
The branch also organised a special party for Isabella to present her family the holiday.
“When they presented the wish they brought party food, a Dora cake. There must have been about 20 people there, it was just gorgeous,” she said.
The branch is also marking Wish Day on Friday 23 March with a sausage sizzle at Woolworths in Beaconsfield.
Wish Day is held every year to raise funds and help the foundation grant wishes to children with a life-threatening medical condition.
The family are looking forward to Isabella’s last treatment.
“Her treatment should finish in September. That will be two years of her receiving treatment,” Louise said.
“I’m looking forward to it.”