There’s a moment Ben will never forget, a moment no parent should have to endure. His five-year-old daughter, Maddi, went limp in his arms and stopped breathing.
“You think she’s gone,” Ben recalls.
Racing Maddi to the hospital, Ben and his wife, Kylie, watched as doctors fought to save their daughter’s life.
The days that followed were a blur of fear and exhaustion.
Maddi was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, a severe infection with life altering consequences.
The odds were against her, many children who survive face lifelong disabilities.
Yet even in those darkest moments, there was hope.
Ben and Kylie describe the first week in the hospital as a “horrific rollercoaster,” watching their healthy, happy daughter become unresponsive and fragile.
When Maddi’s condition worsened, she crashed again. Doctors and nurses rushed into the room, deploying every tool at their disposal to stabilise her and amid the chaos, Kylie remembers one nurse’s actions.
“When she crashed, it broke me,” Kylie admits, recalling the awful moment, “A nurse just grabbed my hand and kept me standing, without her I don’t know how I would have gotten through it.”
Maddi’s family clung to each small sign of hope; a glimmer of recognition in her eyes, any hint of movement whilst the medical team tirelessly adjusted her medication, closely monitoring her progress.
“The first time we saw her move again, we were ecstatic,” Kylie says. “It wasn’t perfect, she moved like a little Bambi trying to walk, but it was progress.”
During their long stay at the hospital, the family found moments of solace in the support Wishlist provides.
Therapy dogs brought genuine smiles to Maddi’s face, Clown Doctors filled her room with laughter, their silly jokes bringing reprieve to the whole family and for brief moments, the harsh reality of hospital life gave way to joy, humour, and connection.
Ben and Kylie were able to use Wishlist’s Parents’ Retreat, often their only refuge during the most challenging days, which offered comfort and community.
Knowing they could stay close to Maddi whilst taking a small break meant everything.
“You can’t put a price on hope, and that’s what Wishlist gave us,” Kylie says.
“They make an incredible difference for families going through unimaginable challenges. It’s all possible thanks to the community.”
Maddi’s determination inspired everyone around her. She slowly regained her strength, learning to walk again, step by step.
After six weeks, she was discharged and made a full recovery.
“You take life for granted, but when you almost lose what you love most, it changes how you see everything,” Ben reflects.
This new perspective led the family to plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Lapland, where Maddi experienced husky-led sled rides, fed reindeer, and met the real Santa.
Maddi’s story is not just one of survival, but also of generosity and community, a reminder that hope thrives when people come together to give selflessly.
Your donation has the power to change lives for families like Ben, Kylie and Maddi, who find themselves in a situation they never imagined and were dependent on community kindness and generosity.
This year, Wishlist Giving Day will be held on Thursday, March 27 and donations made on this day will be matched by local businesses, including Ben and Kylie’s business, Protector Aluminium who have generously pledged $25,000.
Like Maddi’s family, you have the power to make a difference.
Whether you choose to donate, create your own fundraiser, or simply spread the word, you’re helping provide essential support to families in crisis.
Help us make Wishlist Giving Day a success this year and bring hope to more families – donate on March 27 to have your donation doubled!
