Eliza is a young mum from Melbourne, who had made strong friendships through mothers’ group. Being diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer came as a shock to Eliza, her family, and friends – “everything I knew had been paused, replaced by fortnightly chemotherapy, radiation. Chemo was a hard, leaving me feeling completely drained, while radiation seemed to sap whatever energy I had left.”

But she told us how her family and friends rallied around her - cooking meals, looking after her children, buying her linen, clothes and flowers. “They cry with me but give me hope at the same time.”

After Eliza was referred to us for a Dream experience. She said “How could I dream when I felt so awful? But then, slowly, the day came when the feeding tubes were removed. …I began to feel a glimmer of my old self…It was then that the idea of my dream took shape. I wanted to feel normal again.”

So Eliza’s dream was of having an epic girl’s night out. The Dream Team girls – all know and love the power of a girl’s night out!

We are so happy that Eliza and friends all had a great time, with transport for Eliza and her six girlfriends arranged through the kindness of our supporter Hughes Transport; and a night’s stay, dinner and high tea from our valued supporters the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.

Eliza telling us “Dinner that night was delicious—after being unable to eat for six long months, every mouthful of food is amazing! And at high tea I tasted the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had!”

Eliza also said “For that one night, I felt normal. I felt well. Surrounded by my incredible friends, I was able to show them just how grateful I was for their support, their love, and their unwavering presence in my life. It was a night of laughter, of joy, of life—a night where cancer had no place, and all that mattered was the here and now.”

"Thank you, for giving me that gift. For making me feel like just another 36-year-old having an epic night out with friends. It’s a memory I will cherish forever, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, life can still be beautiful."