Theresa Youell

Lanais's Team

Lanais spent a total of 127 days in The Queensland Children’s Hospital, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) fighting for her life from severe complications following her 4th open heart surgery.

She fought incredibly hard and survived operations and procedures that doctors unfortunately did not expect her to. She was a true warrior. But while her spirit and will to live was as strong as ever, her poor body was exhausted. Lanais passed on 9 March 2017. She was 15 years old.

Lanais was a healthy, extremely active, happy and vibrant 10-year-old girl who one day in 2012 arrived home from school to tell me she had experienced a ‘pain’ in her chest while running in the playground at lunchtime. I did not realise it then, but that very moment was the beginning of our nightmare – 4 open heart surgeries in 5 years, twice on life support, numerous hospital stays, up to 11 medications a day, testing her blood INR daily, weeks and weeks of missed school, physical limitations, incredible worry and stress, and many sleepless nights.

The QCH was a big part of our lives for 5 years (from 2012 – 2017). Over this period Lanais had several stays in PICU. During her 4 month stay, we saw many families come and go. Most children, thankfully, only stayed a short time. What was evident was the stress and anxiety that comes hand in hand with the PICU environment. Let’s face it, children don’t spend time in PICU unless they are very, very sick.

We want to help those families. We want to give back, to say thank you to the PICU staff, and to make the environment as comfortable as possible.

WHY ARE WE FUNDRAISING

We are raising money for much needed PICU equipment.

WHAT IS ‘LANAIS'S TEAM’ GOAL

Our goal is to hit our target and provide as much equipment as we can for the kids and families of PICU. 

THE EVENT

Who: Everyone welcome! The more the merrier

When: Saturday 8 October 2022

Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm

What: 3.4km riverside walk

Where: Begin in front of QPAC.

ON THIS DAY

We'll meet in front of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) at South Bank and take a group photo.

We'll then walk the 3.4 km along the river, over the Goodwill Bridge, through the Botanic Gardens, back over the Goodwill and finish at South Banks's River Quay Green. That concludes the walk, but for anyone wanting to enjoy a relaxed lunch we'll have a section set aside for us at the Ship Inn. Again, the more the merrier.  

#lanaislegacy #inlanaishonour #makeherproud #alwaysinourhearts