Japan visit inspired by Wish realisation
Monique's 2022 Japanese garden wish inspired her to make a trip to Japan.
Monique and her kimono head to Japan
A little over three years ago, Monique dressed in a beautiful floral kimono and experienced an unforgettable wish day in rural New South Wales.
Recently, Monique and that same kimono visited Japan, going on a trip organised independently of Make-A-Wish.
Monique’s mum April said it felt like a part of her wish. “The trip was the flow-on effect from the wish day,” April said.
Monique is also convinced that realising her wish for a ‘springtime Japanese garden bento box lunch’ was a major factor in her three-week Japanese holiday.
“The wish gave me the inspiration to actually go to Japan,” Monique said.
“It made me want to experience more of all things Japanese.”
Positive Monique shows lots of resilience
Monique’s medical journey started when she was 14 and holidaying in Sydney. Her hands began to hurt so much she was in tears.
When a GP, who used to be a dermatologist, suspected it was the autoimmune disease scleroderma, Monique was sent to The Royal Children's Hospital for assessment.
The GP’s initial diagnosis proved correct: the teenager had severe scleroderma which caused her skin to harden and tighten.
Monique battled constant fatigue and sore hands for several years until in January 2022 she underwent a stem cell transplant.
The transplant rebooted Monique’s immune system, using her own stem cells to try to conquer the debilitating scleroderma.
It worked, but only for six months.
April said her daughter had a positive mindset that helped her overcome the endless hospital appointments and setbacks.
“Her lung function is down to 45 per cent and she can’t pull in a big breath to get oxygen through to her muscles, so she gets fatigue,” April said.
“I know she would like to be doing a lot more than she is, but she is very resilient.”
The wish is an absolute tool to get through the bad situations
April, wish mum
Wish anticipation helps in the tough times
Monique’s wish proved pivotal leading up to her stem cell transplant, and the months that followed.
The wish was a distraction for Monique at a time when she needed it most.
“The wish is an absolute tool to get through the bad situations,” April said.
“It is something to distract you from the 50 millionth blood test when the veins aren’t working and your kid is there crying and saying ‘Please stop doing this to me’.
“And then you can say ‘Hang on a minute we haven’t planned yet what we are going to do on our wish’ or ‘What colour do you want this in?’.
“It’s such a vital distraction for kids.”
Bento box lunch stays in Monique's memory
Monique’s wish to have a Japanese garden bento box lunch took place at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Cowra, NSW.
Dressed in kimonos for the day were Monique, her sister Ebony and friends Alina and Chanelle.
“I really appreciate that I got to select and then wear a kimono,” Monique said.
“That was probably the highlight of it all.”
The wish sparked Monique’s desire to go to Japan.
Cruising the waters of Japan
April said Monique’s long-held interest in anime was one of the driving forces of the Japan adventure.
Monique, her parents, her sister, and grandparents went on a 12-day cruise all around Japan.
That was followed by five nights in Tokyo, in a district known for its anime.
“Hopefully it’s the start of many trips of a lifetime,” April said.
