Mackay Mayor’s Charity Ball to help HeartKids employ a full-time family support co-ordinator
Tickets are now sold out for an event raising money to support children such as three-year-old Stella who reaches 12 months free of open-heart surgery this week.
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Maria Martin knew life was going to be difficult with her beautiful baby girl even while she was still in utero.
The Mackay mum had to temporarily relocate to Brisbane during pregnancy for a specialist medical team to closely monitor her when her daughter Stella had severe narrowing of the aorta.
But three years later, the mother-daughter duo are celebrating in yellow as they mark 12 months free of surgeries with a meet-and-greet and concert with the Wiggles.
"She's had three open heart surgeries in three years," Ms Martin said.
"It's been a really tough journey and she's got developmental milestones."
Ms Martin said the upcoming Mackay Mayor's Charity Ball would help families like hers with 50 per cent of the proceeds donated to Heart Kids to fund a full-time family support co-ordinator for the region.
"The support they gave us was absolutely amazing - emotional, financial and everything that we needed, they were always there," she said.
HeartKids Queensland state manager Holly Williams said the role would support about 300 Mackay families who had a member living with or impacted by congenital heart disease.
"Congenital heart disease is an umbrella term for lots of different types of heart defects and it's the leading cause of infant death in Australia," Ms Williams said.
She said HeartKids' mission was to be the "compass" for families throughout their "whole-of-life" journey as they strived to live their most fulfilling life possible.
Ms Williams said the Mackay co-ordinator would be able to establish a support group, playgroups, meetings and possibly camps.
"For children that are impacted by congenital childhood heart disease, they are often unable to attend mainstream camps or regular sporting clubs," she said.
"They feel isolated from their wider school or peer community.
"They often experience heightened mental health or neuro-developmental issues.
"With our support programs, we've designed them specifically to boost self-esteem, emotional and physical health wellbeing.
"(They) are life changing for these children who are dealing with everything through no fault of their own.
"We wouldn't be able to function without the generous donations from our community, from corporate sponsorship, from events like the Mackay Mayor's Gala."
More stories:
Mayor's Charity Ball shakes off those COVID blues
Tickets have now sold out for the charity ball on May 15. To book, phone the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre Box Office on 4961 9777.
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Originally published as Mackay Mayor’s Charity Ball to help HeartKids employ a full-time family support co-ordinator
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