HOME: Sheryl, Tyla and Michelle Mair were happy to have the family back together once more.
SO, did she think she was a hero? “Yes,” Tyla Mair answered with a big, cheeky, knowing grin.
“Why?”
“Because I’ve had to go through so much that kids don’t get through; some of them.”
A playful, honest answer and a chilling reminder that Tyla knows there have been some less fortunate than herself.
It is something that Tyla’s mother, Michelle, has no doubt been acutely aware of too, but those thoughts that have no place within her family’s happiness for her daughter’s return to Inverell.
“It’s great to be home, finally. Initially I never thought I would see this day. When they tell you you’re going to be there for six to 10 months you think that home time is never going to come, but it comes around quite quick,” Michelle said.
“It does seem strange, but in light of the fact that Tyla does have leukaemia we were on an oncology ward and there were children far worse than we were. So we were quite lucky and Tyla’s treatment went well.
“She did have a tough time in the middle phase of her treatment but other than that she was pretty much textbook and we had a good time. Once you learn to control the nausea, vomiting and everything the rest is easy.”
Michelle said they did have good time.
“Because it’s a children’s hospital it’s so different from a normal hospital.
“It’s really fun and vibrant.
“They just have so much fun there that you forget about everything else and I think that’s the aim,” Michelle said.
“But even when Tyla goes to clinic and has seven hours of chemotherapy they’re watching movies, they’re playing games.
“It’s not like you would see at an adult treatment centre…The kids watch movies, play games play cards, yeah, it’s really good.
“I think every parent worries for their children, you worry for their future, you worry for everything.
“But to be in a place where you don’t have to worry, where you have the support and the treatment just makes it so much easier.”
Michelle said the community of Inverell made it easier too.
“The community of Inverell have been absolutely fantastic the way they rallied…It’s just a shame we couldn’t get home to be involved to have fun at the fun…but that’s why we live in Inverell, community spirit is alive and kicking.
“Why would you live anywhere else?” Michelle said.
“So many people to thank, first an foremost friends and family, business houses, we have a list of everybody who has helped and we’ve just begun to go round and thank everybody personally.”
Tyla returns to school today, something she said she is really looking forward to.