Roxy Dwyer, 7, granted Make-A-Wish to visit Rainbrella Project in Queensland

A little girl’s colourful dream will soon come true as she and her family visit a forest filled with hundreds of rainbow umbrellas, as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. DETAILS >

Simone Coleman and her daughter Roxy Dwyer, 7. Picture: Chris Kidd

Brave young Roxy Dwyer finds much joy in rainbows.

It was “love at first sight” when her mum Simone Coleman bought her a rainbow umbrella when she was two years old.

Soon, thanks to Make-A-Wish, Roxy will visit the Rainbrella Project in Queensland which has hundreds of rainbow umbrellas suspended from the trees across a rainforest walkway.

She and her family will meet the artist whose inspiration for the project was based on hope.

Roxy was nine months old when she was diagnosed with the rare brain condition Miller-Dieker lissencephaly. She is tube-fed and uses a special device to communicate.

“Lissencephaly translates to smooth brain and is the cause for her cerebral palsy and seizure disorder,” Simone said.

Simone Coleman and her daughter Roxy Dwyer 7 at Blackmans Bay. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Seeing on a medical document that it’s probable that she will have a shortened life, while confronting, also makes seeing her wish come true all the more sweet.

“We wouldn’t be able to give her this wonderful experience without MAW, and experiences are what we want more than anything.

“I was sitting in emergency with Roxy the day I applied.

“I just felt so sad that we’d spent so much time in there recently and felt like she wasn’t living her very best life.

“They really gave me some hope to have better days with her.”

Simone said applying for the wish was “bittersweet” but she knew it would mean the world to the family, dad Daniel, daughter Kaelah, 18, and four-year-old son Ziggy, to take Roxy to Queensland to enjoy something they know she will love so much.

“I just want to thank Make-A-Wish for being so wonderful through every step and of course for making this wish come to life.

Daniel Dwyer, Simone Coleman and their daughter Roxy Dwyer, 7. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Everyone has been so warm and kind and they’re genuine in their attempts to make this is special as they can for Roxy.

“As her mum, that makes me so happy. I can’t say enough about how grateful we are.

Make-A-Wish volunteer Romany Brodribb said Roxy’s wish “has truly captured our imagination”.

“Her love of colour is so clear, and we cannot wait for her to experience a sky filled with her favourite rainbow umbrellas in July.

“World Wish Day (Saturday) is an annual celebration of the remarkable, uplifting impact that wishes have for everyone involved, including wish children like Roxy and their families.”

Make-A-Wish Hobart branch will be holding a fundraising BBQ in honour of World Wish Day on Saturday at Glenorchy Bunnings from 8:00am.