Ausnew Home Care | Audrey Wallace's palliative care wish comes true with unicorn princess party

Audrey Wallace's palliative care wish comes true with unicorn princess party

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Unicorns, princesses and fairy floss are key elements for any six-year-old's dream party but for Audrey Wallace, it's literally a wish come true.

The Gold Coast girl is in palliative care and lives with treatment-resistant epilepsy.

Amidst the heartache of navigating a journey without a timeline, parents Justin and Ashlee Wallace had one goal to give their little girl a bash to remember after spending so many milestones in the hospital.

"Audrey was deadset on having a unicorn princess party," Mr Wallace said.

parents assisting daughter on pony ride
Ashlee and Justin Wallace with their daughter Audrey, 6, and Lisa McMahon at the unicorn princess party.(ABC Gold Coast: Jessica Lamb)

Today, that wish came true thanks to the local community and charity Ambulance Wish Queensland.

It's a far cry from the family's situation just a month ago when they were housebound in a home too small for Audrey's needs and with no end in sight on the state's public housing waitlist.

After a story by the ABC, the family moved into a disability-accessible home on the Gold Coast and Audrey's National Disability Insurance Scheme support package was also reviewed to include 24-hour nursing care.

The family's story resonated with strangers and the family were loaned a wheel-chair-friendly van.

"It's been a huge relief … and now we are giving Audrey the celebration that she deserves," Mr Wallace said.

"She was so excited she couldn't even sleep last night."

Family dressed in unicorn theme
Audrey's groupies Ryley Pollock, 12, Axel Wilson, 5, Megan Wright and Michael Wilson were some of the partygoers.(ABC Gold Coast: Jessica Lamb)

Loved ones, teachers and support workers came dressed as princesses to a local venue transformed into a unicorn wonderland.

Family friend Allessandia Montana Murray said local businesses had also donated their time and goods after she reached out on social media.

"Today was possible through the extreme kindness of other mothers who were touched by their story … it really is a parent's worst nightmare," she said.

"We were really wanting to celebrate her life, really wanting to celebrate the adversity and the challenges that she has overcome.

"When you meet Audrey, she is the most bright, bubbly kind beautiful girl and it's a pure reflection of her family after everything they have faced and been through."

Mother and three young children with their colourful pony
Sarah Tinker and her children, Seth 8, Maddison, 3, and Charlotte, 5, came from Jimboomba with their pony Razzle Dazzle.(ABC Gold Coast: Jessica Lamb)

Support worker Sarah Tinker only met Audrey a fortnight ago and today she travelled from more than an hour away with her family and pony 'Razzle Dazzle' to make Audrey's unicorn dream a reality.

"(Audrey's) smile is priceless," she said.

"You never know what tomorrow is or what tomorrow brings and the fact that I can make one of her wishes come true makes the world of difference for me."

 

Source: ABC


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