Elliott’s health journey has been a lifelong one. She was only five weeks old when her mum Rebekah and dad Fraser took her to the paediatrician…
Elliott may seem like any other girl her age. She loves animals and simply adores her two pet dogs. In her free time, she likes to ballroom dance.
But Elliott is not like every other 11-year-old. She’s endured so much more than any child her age should.
Elliott’s health journey has been a lifelong one. She was only five weeks old when her mum Rebekah and dad Fraser took her to the paediatrician.
“On that same day, the paediatrician said, ‘You need to sit down. She’s got biliary atresia – a life-threatening disease, and we’re going to airlift you to hospital right now.’ She had surgery a couple of days later. That’s when it really all started,” says Rebekah.
Elliott had a liver transplant when she was only eight months old. Something that happened so long ago will affect Elliott for the rest of her life. She feels sad, as she can’t play some sports or games with her friends. In her words:
“My friends will say, ‘Oh, Elliott, sign up for rugby. And I have to say, ‘I’m actually not allowed to play rugby, or tug of war, or anything like that.’”
Elliott’s wish is about a journey she took with her grandmother. A journey where she and her grandmother, who she spent a lot of time with, dreamed of a campervan trip across the North Island. Elliott’s grandmother wanted Elliott to make plenty of precious memories during her wish.
They were supposed to make those memories together, but devastatingly, Elliott’s grandmother passed away in 2023.
Elliott’s wish remained the same as the one she dreamed up with her grandmother – to go on a campervan road trip around the North Island. This wish means Elliott can make so many memories, replacing ones she missed out on because of her critical illness.
Elliott hasn’t spent much time on the North Island, aside from lengthy stays in Starship. This wish will give her a chance to replace those scary North Island memories with sparkly, fun ones.
Thanks to the generosity of amazing supporters and donors, Elliott’s wish came true!
Elliott’s first flew over to Auckland 🛬, where she checked out the animals at the zoo, before picking up her campervan with her family!
The next stop on Elliott’s North Island campervan road trip was Hobbiton! Elliott’s family drove the campervan from Auckland to Matamata, stopping overnight in Cambridge on the way. ⭐
When they arrived in Matamata, Elliott’s family enjoyed a tour of The Shire! Elliott loves all things Lord of the Rings, so this was a special stop for her.
The next stop on Elliott’s North Island campervan road trip was the marvellous Rotorua!
Elliott and her whānau enjoyed the gondola and luge at Skyline Rotorua, before heading to Paradise Valley Springs to feed the deer.
In the evening, she enjoyed an adventure in the sky at Redwoods Treewalk!
After a long drive from Rotorua, with a pitstop at Foxton beach along the way, Elliott and her whānau made it to the last stop on their road trip – Wellington!
In Wellington, Elliott toured Wētā Workshop, before heading to Te Papa. It was an amazing end to her trip!
Thank you so much to everyone who donated to 2023’s Christmas Appeal – it’s because of you that Elliott’s wish could come true! Thank you also to every partner who supported with Elliott’s wish.
And, last but certainly not least, a huge thank you to Karen, Rachel and Tony – Make-A-Wish NZ volunteers who helped with Elliott’s wish!
