Abby is smiling through

By Melissa Meehan
FOUR-year-old Yarra Glen belle Abby Chirnside has endured more than many in her short life, all with a smile on her face.
In September 2007 Abby was diagnosed with an acute case of lymphoid leukaemia.
After noticing that Abby was not quite herself, her mother Tania Chirnside took her daughter for a check up with her doctor, who organised some tests.
Test results revealed the shock diagnosis and Abby soon began treatment.
As part of her treatment Abby and her parents make the hour long trip to the Royal Children’s Hospital once a week.
“It is just a wonderful hospital, the nurses are just beautiful and that kind of thing helps in situations like this,” Mrs Chirnside said.
Mrs Chirnside said that activities organised by the Challenge Charity in the cancer ward are especially wonderful.
“Activities such as Trampoline Day where they brought ice cream into the ward, and Krispy Kreme Day make it a lot easier for these kids to come into the hospital,” Mrs Chirnside said.
“Unfortunately, Abby missed out on seeing Hi5 because she was so sick but she just loves the days they hold, it gives her something to look forward to when we head to the hospital.”
Abby’s father Andy said that his up-beat and cheeky daughter has coped with the treatments really well.
“She can get tired and feels a little sick from the chemotherapy but on the whole she is pretty chirpy,” Mr Chirnside said.
“She is lucky that her form of cancer can be treated at home and through the hospital as an outpatient.”
Both parents say that they are very proud of the way Abby has dealt with her illness.
“She has been excellent and she now truly understands that the medicine will make her better,” Mrs Chirnside said.
“At the start I didn’t like it but I’ve gotten used to it,” Abby said.
When she is well enough Abby still enjoys her half-hour tap and jazz ballet classes each week.
“I love dancing,” Abby said.
Abby currently attends four-year-old kinder in Lilydale North but is looking forward to joining her sisters Kaylia and Tyler at Lilydale West Primary School next year.
“I can’t wait to go to school with Tyler and Kaylia but my brother Jaiden will go to high school next year, so I won’t be going to the same school as him,” Abby said.
Mrs Chirnside said that Abby’s brother and sisters have been very tolerant throughout the ordeal.
“They have been great. When Abby got sick we had to cancel a family holiday to Hamilton Island but they were so understanding,” Mrs Chirnside said.