WHEN it comes to wishes Jamie Whitworth can ’t choose between a new phone, a drum kit or a guitar.
The 15-year-old from Pitt Town, who suffers from spina bifida and hydrocephalus, is one of almost 200 sick children waiting for a Starlight Wish.
She was originally considering a trip to the Gold Coast to see the dolphins, but has decided she wants something she can keep.
"I like listening to music, so I ’d like to have a go at getting into it," she said.
"I don ’t want to just go on a holiday, which you get for a short period of time, then it ’s gone." Jamie said her conditions affected her daily life and had resulted in learning difficulties.
Where others her age may pick up on new information quickly, she takes longer and needs the information to be given in smaller doses to understand.
She also has kidney problems and easily falls prey to infection.
Her balance problems prevent her from taking part in normal teenage activities, such as gymnastics and contact sports, as do the shunts in her head.
"I have to be careful not to get hit on the heath" she said. ~I have to be careful notto get hit on the head. It can cause a clot, which can make fluid run to the head "It can cause a c1ot~ which can make fluid run to the head.
"I go to hospital at least once every one or two months." Her mum Lyn said Jamie was born with spina bifida.
"We didn ’t know anything about it so it was a bit of a shock," she said.
"We ’ve learned to live with it, so we don ’t know any different now." Jamie and Lyn encouraged all people to donate to the Starlight Children ’s Foundation.
"It ’s a really good cause for kids struggling to get through day-today life," Jamie said.
"It will help give a kid a smile on their face." You can help grant Starlight wishes to seriously ill children across Australia by making a donation or purchasing the gift of a Starlight donation for someone you love via Starlight ’s website www.starlight.org.au
By Caryn Metcalfe
http://penrith-press.whereilive.com.au/
