Lorraine (Rainey) Cobcroft
AUTHOR
Written for my grandchildren, and to support my younger daughter’s efforts to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation, ‘Melanie’s Easter Gift’ is loosely based on the true story of a family challenged to pay for their baby daughter’s medical treatment after the father and bread winner was fired from his job for taking too much time away from work to visit his sick child in hospital.
My daughter and some friends flew to Alaska to run in the Mayor’s Marathon, raising tens of thousands of dollars to assist with medical bills and incidental expenses.
‘Melanie’s Easter Gift’ illustrates the true meaning of Easter with a story of love, compassion and kindness.
Suited for children up to 14 years of age.
All sales proceeds donated to the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Foundation.
My younger daughter, who moved the U.S. to marry and live permanently, took up marathon running. When she asked me to write a letter requesting sponsorship to run in the Mayor’s Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska, she mentioned that she and her friends sought to raise money to help a family with a sick child. Later, she told me the family’s sad story. Without the benefit of Australia’s public health system, the family was unable to afford essential treatment for their baby daughter, who suffered Leukaemia. The father was sacked for taking too much time off work to visit his sick child in hospital. As the family’s medical insurance was a benefit of his employment, his dismissal meant they were uninsured. I was shocked to learn that when he asked a doctor what his options were, the reply was to the effect of, ‘’Find $100,000 somewhere or watch your daughter die.” I hope it wasn’t said in those callous words!
Fiercely proud of my daughter’s caring and generosity, I wanted to do something to support her efforts.
At the time, my grandchildren were very young. I saw an opportunity to teach them a valuable lesson about caring for others, and a lesson about the real meaning of Easter. And thus, Melanie’s Easter Gift was born.
I commissioned a talented student to provide black and white sketches for illustrating the work, and I am deeply indebted to my talented husband for colouring the images and designing the pages.
After having the books printed overseas, I donated several cartons to Children’s Hospitals. Printing is now discontinued, but I still have a couple of cartons available for purchase if anyone knows of children who might appreciate them. It is available as an ebook.