Let's Quokka-bout Gracie's Wish
Seven-year-old Gracie wished to go to Rottnest Island and 'take selfies' with the smiley animals who hold a special place in her heart
Sharing an infectious smile
Gracie is a brave and fun-loving 7-year-old with a heart of gold – she also loves to make everyone laugh and smile.
So, it’s only natural that Gracie fell in love with Quokkas and their infectious grins in the past year. Ever since she found out they existed, she has been obsessed.
Having first spotted a Quokka in an Australian movie, she quickly began researching more about the adorable animal, watching videos and wanting to know everything about them.
A gift from grandma
Gracie was one day gifted a Quokka toy from her grandma. This plush Quokka accompanied Gracie whenever she was having treatment or surgeries for her Marfan syndrome: a genetic disorder that affects connective tissue, impacting various parts of the body including the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and skeleton.
So when Gracie’s wish 'to see Quokkas and take selfies' came true, she was all smiles! Gracie got to take her whole family (and her plush Quokka of course!) to spend time with real Quokkas on Rottnest Island.
Rebekkah, Gracie’s mum, said that her daughter's favourite part of the whole trip was getting a kiss from a quokka!
We loved seeing the kids absolute joy when interacting with the quokkas, the quality family time without the stress of medical appointments and our normal responsibilities, riding around on bikes exploring the island, and just taking in the absolute beauty of Rottnest!
Rebekah, Gracie's mum
Gracie wishes big for the future
Gracie’s wish was an urgent one, as her medical team was unsure of how she would respond to her recent open-heart surgery, meaning her wish to see the quokkas was fast-tracked.
“Her wish being granted has shown Gracie that all her bravery and spirit getting through her surgeries was seen. It’s given her such a sense of accomplishment and pride that she was able to push through these recent tough times, knowing that she had an amazing adventure ahead of her. Before her recent heart surgery, we kept telling her that once she healed, she would be going on her amazing trip - so she would squeeze her Wish Coin and wish big for the future."
This wish being granted for Gracie has given her so much joy, and the memories we have of this trip will last us all a lifetime. She hasn't stopped talking about her trip, and her love for the quokkas. She loved the trip so much that she wants us to move there!
Rebekah, Gracie's mum
