About the Book

When tragedy strikes the Andrews family, the wisdom and kindness of a teacher helps an entire town develop an appreciation of the true meaning of Easter, and the miracle of life.

Through a simple story of human kindness, Melanie's Easter Gift helps parents develop their child's appreciation of good fortune, and teach compassion and charity*.

Inspired by the story of a beautiful baby girl diagnosed with Leukemia, and her family's brave struggle, Melanie's Easter Gift is a 24 page picture book, appropriate for children aged 4 to 8.  

The story was written to help the author's grandchildren learn compassion, charity, and human love.  The book proceeds were donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation to support the efforts of the author's daughter, whose commitment to helping children like Hailey drove her to join marathon runs, and spend countless hours mailing sponsor request letters in the hope of helping save just a few more precious lives.

Printed on heavy, gloss paper and case bound with a full color hard cover, every page is superbly illustrated by talented artist, Jasmine Hambling.

At $19.95 AUD per copy, including GST, ($9.95 USD for international buyers) it represents excellent value, and is a book that children will treasure.  Every purchase will help save lives, and provide desperately needed help for the families of blood cancer sufferers.

Hailey's Story

I became acquainted with little Hailey through my younger daughter, Danie.  She is a beautiful little girl, now three, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at just 4 months of age.  After repeated rounds of painful and costly treatment, her family are celebrating little victories - like the fact that she can now play for a few minutes at a time in her own backyard, and just occasionally, she gets into a little childish mischeif. These are things we, parents of healthy children, take so much for granted! 

Hailey has a long way yet to go.  Caring for her is costly, both monetarily and emotionally. Her family live with the knowledge that they might never see their little girl grow to be a woman. Yet they live in hope, and give thanks daily for the joy this sunny child brings to their lives.

Moved by Hailey's plight, Danie joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation's Team in Training to run marathons to raise money for blood cancer research.  She emailed me one day asking for my help to compose a sponsor request letter.  Her request was accompanied by a link to a web site publishing Hailey's story and photograph. 

I have to confess surprise at Danie's news.  I guess all parents, at certain times in their children's lives, experience a little disappointment.  As deeply as I loved her, I felt that Danie had developed a somewhat self-centered attitude that did not become her.  But after a life-changing experience, she had blossomed into a loving, caring, generous young woman prepared to extend herself physically and emotionally to give to a worthy cause.

Running 26 miles is tough.  Danie says simply "Fighting Leukemia is much tougher".  Little Hailey smiles and laughs through painful chemotherapy, enduring suffering that most of us cannot even imagine!  An engaging little girl who delights all she meets with her cheerful personality, she never complains about her lot.  She is one of hundreds of thousands of blood cancer sufferers worldwide - tens of thousands of them children - praying that researchers find a cure before their race is run.

Danie returned from her run in Anchorage, Alaska, in June 2006 with a painful injury. She returned to learn a near friend had lost his battle with Leukemia.  She almost gave up her battle.  But after reflection, she threw herself with renewed vigour into the task of preparing for a run in Hawaii on December 14, 2008. She mails bundles of sponsor request letters daily, endeavouring to raise funds for sufferers like Hailey - hoping to help find a cure.

I dedicated Melanie's Easter Gift to my four beloved grandchildren, whose health and good fortune we take too much for granted; to little Hailey, in the hope that the proceeds of sales of my book will help find a cure; and to Danie, in recognition and support of her generousity and caring.  Danie, you make me very, very proud! 



* Melanie's Easter Gift includes some references to Christian beliefs and celebrations.