WHEN Christina Allgood’s ex-employer, McDonalds, contacted her about hosting a fundraising event for her granddaughter she jumped at the chance.
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“I just want to put some money into a joint account to help with the everyday expenses as her pop, Paul Newberry, and his partner, Mel, are her full-time carers,” she explains.
They have received so many wonderful donations but being picked up in a limousine, cruising around Newcastle and then attending a performance of Disney on Ice really put a smile on her granddaughter’s face. She looked beautiful with her Frozen costume and tiara on. She karaoked all the way in and enjoyed it so much. Now I just want to do something to help Paul with the everyday costs. He has signed her up for tennis classes and swimming. It all costs money and he had so much time off work when Vicki was sick.
- Christina Allgood
“We have Abbie on the weekends and in the holidays.”
This is because seven weeks ago, just five days before her 9th birthday, Abbie lost her mum to Aplastic anemia.
Vicki Newberry was only 27 years old when she lost her short battle against the disease.
Christina says when the vivacious young single mum was diagnosed with the condition in September they never imagined it would claim her life.
Aplastic anaemia is a rare and serious condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new blood cells.
It leaves you feeling fatigued and with a higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding.
It can occur at any age and suddenly, like in Vicki’s case, or it can progress slowly.
Treatment for aplastic anaemia may include medications, blood transfusions or a stem cell transplant.
Unfortunately, both times Vicky prepared to undergo a stem cell transplant, she became too ill to have the procedure.
Thankfully, Abbie has a strong support network to help her through this difficult time and when Christina wrote to KOFM asking for “anything that would put a smile” on her beloved granddaughter’s face, her expectations were exceeded.
It also prompted an avalanche of other offers, including a brand new bed from Harvey Norman.
“The community has been so generous, we have received so many wonderful donations,” she says.
McDonald’s community relations representative Amy Heinzel says they are going all out for the Singleton fundraiser scheduled for Sunday, July 12, from 4pm to 6pm.
“When we host this kind of event for a sporting group it is usually only during the week but in this case we made an exception,” she says.
“During the two-hour disco 10 per cent of all our sales from the drive-through, front counter and McCafe will go to Abbie.
“We will be having a DJ in the party room, Frozen characters, face painting, craft and a raffle.
“So even if you can’t get to the disco just purchasing something from the drive-through will help.”
Amy says at a similar event in Rutherford they were able to deposit $3500 into the beneficiaries account.
As a mother of three children, under the age of six, and with her personal connection to Abbie’s story, she is determined make the disco a success.
Christina hopes it will also be a fun-time for Abbie, who is generally coping well but has her “quiet times”.
“Children grieve differently to adults but at the moment she is the one keeping us together,” she explains.
It is clear Christina is still trying to comes to terms with the loss of her daughter -in-law.
“But it has made us aware of the need to donate blood, it kept our Vicky alive.”
Blood transfusions aren’t a cure for aplastic anaemia but they do relieve signs and symptoms by providing blood cells that your bone marrow isn’t producing.
