{"id":49116,"date":"2021-05-03T06:04:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-02T20:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.smooth.com.au\/?p=49116"},"modified":"2021-05-03T07:45:17","modified_gmt":"2021-05-02T21:45:17","slug":"meet-anabela-this-starlight-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.smooth.com.au\/lifestyle\/whats-on\/meet-anabela-this-starlight-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Anabela."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Seven years old and effervescent, Anabela is experiencing living in a house for the first time. For her, one of the most exciting things is going to the letterbox at the end of the garden to check for mail! Despite living with a series of complex medical conditions, she always finds the positive side of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly after she was born, Anabela was diagnosed with Spina Bifida, Complex VACTERL Association, Tethered Cord Syndrome and Scoliosis, and a long list of other conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had her first lifesaving surgery when she was just 48 hours old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Despite the overwhelming trauma of the situation, mum Sarah tried her best to remain optimistic. “Her diagnoses didn\u2019t matter. Anabela was alive and breathing and that’s all I focused on,” Sarah said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, hospital has been an ongoing fixture in Anabela\u2019s life. She has had over 400 trips to hospital, and often sleeps with a life support machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“She doesn\u2019t get to do all the things she wants to do, like jumping on the trampoline and gymnastics. But while her medical situation limits her, it doesn’t let it stop her,” Sarah explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully Starlight has been there to help Anabela and her mum through their toughest times. Having fun with Captain Starlight helps Anabela cope with the pain and fear of hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Her face lights up as soon as the Captains enter the room. Hospital just wouldn’t be the same without them,” Sarah said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n