Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 23 March 2017, Shari Rose of Lismore was diagnosed with lymphoma. Shari endured many rounds of chemotherapy, three stem cell transplants, viruses, chronic pain, as well as kidney failure and respiratory failure caused by pneumonia. Two years after her first diagnosis, Shari, very sadly, passed away on 12 January 2019. She was just 16 years old. Her mother, Jen; sister, Olivia; brother, Jacob; and father, Daryl, as well as extended family and friends, were obviously devastated. Indeed, the wider community mourned with them.

I bring this up today to make people aware of Hummingbird House. It provides, amongst other services, care at the end of life. In the words of Shari's mum, Jen:

Shari died quite suddenly at the end and we were not ready to say goodbye and leave her at the hospital. We were so heartbroken to have lost our beautiful girl, we weren't ready to let her go. Moving her to Hummingbird House allowed us to spend the next two days with her, we felt so incredibly blessed to have more precious time, celebrating every wonderful thing about her. We made more beautiful memories that we will cherish forever.

Besides making people aware of this service, I encourage any who would like to financially support facilities like these to please do so—a service important to Shari's family and many more. Rest in peace, Shari.