Dear Parents & Friends,

Thank You for your Enormous Support of Giselle!

Last weekend, I had the privilege to visit Giselle Collins (Year 7 student) in the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Giselle has a heart condition and was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital to the Cardiac Ward for heart surgery. Melbourne have the best team and facilities in the country. She has had a ventricular assist device (VAD) device installed. The VAD helps pump blood from the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) to the rest of her body. The VAD will improve Giselle’s blood flowwhilst she waits for a heart transplant.

It is likely that Giselle will be hospitalised for a significant period of time and Giselle’s mother and grandmother, have had to relocate to Melbourne, where they live inpartially subsidised accommodation near the hospital.

Mr Watson organised a fund raiser for Giselle and we were overwhelmed with the support from the community. You donated at total of $8697.70 for the Collins family. This included significant donations from the Family College Partnership Care Committee and several SFCC families as well as the generous response from staff, students and families.  

I sincerely thank everyone for their generosity and support. Giselle and her family were overwhelmed. They did not ask for help and were so grateful simply for thoughts and prayers. Jessica, Giselle’s mum extends her thanks on behalf of the family for your contribution. Giselle feels blessed to be part of such a supportive community. 

Another way adults in our community can support Giselle is to get the message out about the importance of being an organ donor. Registration takes about 2 minutes by visiting the following website: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/register-donor-today

It is difficult for everyone to accept that in order for Giselle to receive a heart another family must experience loss; but even more tragic to consider that organs that can no longer be used by those who have passed, are not used to give life to many others. I urge you to register as a donor today. 

May God continue to bless you.

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal