Meet young faces of bravery and hope of 2026 Good Friday Appeal

Stories of great courage and hope inspire us all. And kids who triumph over major accidents and life-threatening illness have an extra special superpower: they inspire others to strive for better days, not just for themselves but often for other people too. So let’s meet three of the young faces of the 2026 Good Friday Appeal, which will inject $3 million into regional health services in Victoria, helping sick children access world‑leading care closer to home

ADDISON
Addison is an ambitious four-year-old. When she’s older, she plans to ride motorbikes and go snowboarding.

But for now, she enjoys swinging on the playground with her “monkey bar arm”.

When Addison was nearly two, she suffered severe hand injuries in a lawn mowing accident.

She had several surgeries; multiple fingers and both thumbs had to amputated*.

But the recent attachment of her pink and purple prosthetic* at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne will help her achieve all her goals.

“As she’s getting older, she’s starting to realise things she wants to do,” Addison’s father Ted said. “She’s got no fear. She just wants to have a go at everything and anything and there’s no stopping her.”

Occupational therapist* Alice Pratt said the attachment was customised for Addison’s arm.

“Addison currently has no active movement in three fingers of her right hand,” she said.

“This attachment fits securely onto her arm, with a custom socket.

“It is designed to help her grip and hang onto bars, such as monkey bars at the playground.

“As Addison grows, she may benefit from different types of prosthetic attachments depending on her needs and activities.”

Ted called Addison “a little champion” and said the doctors and nurses at the Royal Children’s Hospital were “miracle-makers”.

“It’s just one place you know they work miracles; they work around the clock,” he said.

“You know you’re in the best care there. I can never thank them enough.”

Addison’s mother Allie added: “The Royal Children’s Hospital has been amazing to us throughout the past three years of our journey under their care. Without the incredible funds being raised via events like the Good Friday Appeal, things could look very different for our little girl.”

OLIVER

Oliver has already endured what most adults don’t experience in a lifetime. At just six, he’s already had two open heart surgeries.

While Oliver was in the womb, his parents Jacinta and Darcy were told by doctors that something wasn’t right.

“My pregnancy went from normal to high risk,” Jacinta said.

“They didn’t believe that Oliver’s prognosis* was good. They thought he would suffer strokes*, heart attacks and chromosomal abnormalities*.

“But we had a really good support system, we both believe in science and knew with the Royal Children’s Hospital in our corner, that Oliver could have a really full, long and thriving life.”

When Oliver was born in March 2019, a cardiologist* confirmed what they all suspected: the infant had a rare congenital* heart defect called truncus arteriosus.

A CAT scan* revealed his heart was more “complex” than originally thought.

“It was one big jumbled mess,” Jacinta recalled a doctor telling her.

At just four weeks old, brave little Oliver had his first open heart surgery. After 12 hours, the surgery was a success. Oliver spent eight weeks in hospital before he was allowed home.

As a two-year-old, he underwent his second open heart surgery.

Oliver wears his 12cm scar with pride and said watching Bluey and playing Mario Kart was a highlight of his hospital visits.

“We know that Oliver’s life is going to be surgeries, hospitalisations and procedures but we are very supported and guided by the hospital,” Jacinta said.

“He’s doing so well, he’s thriving, he is the happiest, smiliest, full-of-life little boy.”

ALISSA

At four months old, Alissa developed a “strange” rash on her torso and discharge from her ear. At first, doctors thought it was an infection but it turned out to be something more.

Alissa was diagnosed with a rare immune condition* affecting about one in a million children called Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

In the following days, Alissa had an urgent blood transfusion*.

“That probably saved her life because her red blood cells were extremely low,” her father Nicholas said.

“(The doctors) knew what to do, they had the ability to do it and they did it.

“If we had been at another hospital, it’s probably something that wouldn’t have happened.

“I really don’t know where we would have been today.”

Over the next 12 months, Alissa endured intensive chemotherapy*, five days a week for four hours a day.

“We estimate she probably spent one third of the first year of her life in the hospital,” Nicholas said.

“We had her first birthday in the hospital and the nurses decorated the room, brought cake in and threw a little party. She had her first words in hospital, she had her first food in hospital. All those memories are nice memories because of how well supported we were.”

The three-year-old is now receiving experimental targeted therapy* but it’s unknown how long she will need it.

“She just looks like any other happy, healthy child,” Nicholas said.

Alissa has now started kindergarten and has a love of arts and crafts.

“She’s quite creative and artistic,” mum Liana said. “She’s very sweet, very friendly and a little bit sassy as well.”

Nicholas said of the Royal Children’s Hospital that “everyone was just absolutely incredible”.

Funds raised by the 2026 Good Friday Appeal will support critical projects including lifesaving equipment upgrades, further training and scholarships for healthcare professionals.

Good Friday Appeal chairman Penny Fowler said: “This funding supports the hospital’s mission to extend its reach across the state and helps regional children and their families receive world-class care close to where they live, reducing an enormous stress for so many.”

The funds will be allocated to more than 30 regional Victorian health services within five regions, including Barwon South West, Gippsland, Hume, Grampians and Loddon Mallee.

POLL

GLOSSARY
amputated:cut off a part of the body
prosthetic: an artificial body part, such as an arm, foot, or tooth, that replaces a missing part
occupational therapist: professional who treats physical or mental illness by giving patients activities and helping them do things they want or need to do
prognosis: a doctor’s judgment of the likely or expected development of a disease or of the chances of getting better
stroke: a sudden change in the blood supply to a part of the brain, which can result in a loss of some mental or physical abilities and even death
chromosomal abnormalities: an unusual part or feature in a person’s body or behaviour that may be worrying or dangerous to their health
cardiologist: doctor who specialises in the heart and its diseases
congenital: disease or condition that exists at or from birth
CAT scan: procedure that uses a computer linked to an X-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body
immune condition: illness that affects the immune system, which otherwise allows us to tolerate infection and illness
transfusion: process of adding an amount of blood to the body of a person or animal
chemotherapy: disease treatment using chemicals targeted therapy: new form of treatment aimed at proteins on the surface of diseased cells
EXTRA READING
Queen Mary visits sick Aussie kids
Tiny device keeping siblings alive
Are your eyes sun safe right now?

QUICK QUIZ
Addison’s accident involved what kind of machine?
How many open heart surgeries had Oliver had by the age of two?
What symptoms did Alissa have and what did doctors initially think she had?
What were the “firsts” that Alissa celebrated in hospital?
How many regional health services will receive funds from the 2026 Good Friday Appeal?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. How does the Good Friday Appeal fundraise?
After reading this news story, you will know about some of the children that the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne has helped, as well as how some of the funds raised this year will be used. But how do they actually raise the funds? Research using the Good Friday Appeal website to find out about the fundraising activities that are planned, and how the public can be involved.

Write a short radio advertisement or create a flyer to inform others.

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English

2. Extension
Write to explain why you think people choose to donate to charities like the Good Friday Appeal or to be involved in fundraising activities.

If you were to donate to or volunteer for a good cause, what would it be and why?

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Civics and Citizenship, Ethical Understanding

VCOP ACTIVITY
I spy nouns
Nouns are places, names (of people and objects), and time (months or days of the week).

How many nouns can you find in the article?

Can you sort them into places, names and time?

Pick three nouns and add an adjective (describing word) to the nouns.