Mum's strength really shines
SEEING their child taken seriously ill is every parent's worst nightmare and for some it becomes reality.
For Jenn Greene-Galloway that nightmare was when daughter Alyvia, six at the time, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Mrs Greene-Galloway said words could not describe the feeling of when they found out.
"Saying it was a shock is a big understatement," she said.
"It was a life-changing experience where you begin to live a new normal life because you can't go back."
"It was an emotional rollercoaster and traumatic experience and not just to watch your child suffer but all the other kids suffer as well."
The proud mum of now 13-year-old Alyvia who is in remission said it was a journey the family could not have gone through alone.
"When she was diagnosed (husband) Brian and our other two kids moved in with my parents so he could keep working while I was in Brisbane with Alyvia," Mrs Greene-Galloway said.
"We couldn't have gone through what we did without the Leukaemia Foundation and the community of Yangan were a tremendous support.
"I have since thought it does take a village to raise a child."
Mrs Greene-Galloway said when it came to remaining strong for Alyvia while her own support system was hundreds of kilometres away it was the other parents that helped.
"At the start you question if you have the strength and if you can watch your child suffer," she said.
"I think I only had two meltdowns during the 12 months she was in hospital but I just built up a good support network with the other parents.
"We all stuck together and comforted each other on our bad days.
"It was good to be able to talk to like-minded people going through the same thing."
