Rebecca Lloyd: Manly Vale cancer mum has dream family weekend
A Manly Vale mum with breast cancer, was gifted a long weekend on an island north of Sydney, by a care organisation, as a chance to escape the tough time she is going through.
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A northern beaches mum who is in palliative care for breast cancer was given the chance to create everlasting family memories during a visit to an island north of Sydney.
Rebecca Lloyd, her husband Michael, and their nine-year-old son Sam, were provided with a weekend family reunion on tranquil Dangar Island on the Hawkesbury River.
The chance for Ms Lloyd, 48, to catch up with her parents and parents-in-law as well as her brother and sister and two nephews, was organised by HammondCare where she is receiving medical support and care.
HammondCare, an independent Christian charity that provides health, palliative care, dementia and aged care services, created the Mother’s Day weekend getaway last month as part of its Dream Projects program.
The project was set up in 2010 to help patients, who are facing a life-limiting illness, fulfil their dreams and wishes with families and friends.
It has helped other patients with wishes including helping organise a dad record a personal video as a keepsake memory for his four-year-old son; family portraits; a ceremony to renew wedding vows; family portraits and; a memorable meal shared with family and friends at a location that holds special meaning.
Ms Lloyd, a project manager with communications giant NBN Co, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in November 2019.
She has undergone rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation treatment, but had been working full-time.
HammondCare rented the Ferry Master’s Cottage on the island for two nights for Ms Lloyd and her loved ones for the weekend getaway.
“My parents live in Wagga, Michael’s parents live in Canberra, my sister lives in Newcastle and my brother in Sydney. We don’t get together often.
“Michael, Sam and I really enjoyed our two nights of relaxed, quality time with both sets of grandparents at the cottage and on walks around the island,” she said.
“My brother and sister and their families came over for the day.
“It was a low-key, very relaxing weekend. It was fabulous.
“HammondCare was really generous.”
Ms Lloyd, who is about to start another round of radiation therapy, said the Dream Project officials talked to her about what she wanted to help her focus on the positives in her life while taking on cancer.
“I wanted an experience that would create family memories, with everyone together … staying in the island with the grandparents, all together as well.”
She was also able to take the family’s pet Boston terrier Smudge to the island.
HammondCare has also organised for a person to write her personal biography that will be published in book form that she can give to her little boy.
Its chief executive Mike Baird said he was proud of its programs that add to the quality of life of people doing it tough.
“Dreams vary from patient to patient,” Mr Baird said. “They can be Hawkesbury River stays
like this one or beach escapes, heartfelt videos messages to a child, a safe visit home from
hospital for one last look or a goodbye to a pet,” Mr Baird said.
“HammondCare aims to make every dream something that resonates with the patient and makes them realise that they are still special and it’s still OK to dream of things they’d like to do,” he said.
If you’d like to donate to the Dreams project, please click here.
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