Jules’s Story

Site created on November 19, 2018

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep all our generous and loving supporters updated in one place.  It is also a place for us to reach out for help, support and encouragement.  Please visit the planner to see how you can help and allocate a task to yourself.  You can send me well wishes through this page.  If you would like to read more about my health story, please check out my GoFundMe page.  If you are not location based (Sydney) and you able to help by sending us a few $ this will go a long way in helping with my recovery.  Thank you for visiting. I am so grateful, my heart sings for all of you.  Love Jules and Madin xxx

Newest Update

Journal entry by Jules Smith

Happy New Year!  I am starting mine off with a bang, that's for sure.  As I approach my surgery date (again) 7th Jan 19.  I wanted to put out a very quick thank you to some people I know and some strangers and businesses who have been incredibly helpful in the past few weeks (in no particular order):  

* Beverly Hills Montessori Christian Early Learning Centre. For taking Madin in and being so accommodating and helpful. I know you will take good care of my boy when I am in recovery.  

* Maia, Vic and Jonah Lalwani for taking us in for 'Phase 1 recovery'. You guys are amazing, I don't even know how to thank you enough.

* Sam and Dani Birmingham - for looking after us and taking us into their loving arms when my surgery was postponed. Thank you Samberry and Danma.  We love you.

* Jacqui Holquin - for all that you do for us, always.  We love you. 

* To Louisa Sullivan, you know how I feel about you. There are no words, I am crying even as I type this, my heart is so full of love for you.  Thank you for offering to be Madin's guardian (just in case) and to look after me (just in case) and for taking on all the pointy end of this brain surgery business with me.  There are so many things in life I could not have done without you by my side.  Thank you for holding my hand through life.  Two words - gold shoes.  I love you Lou xxx

* To Sonia Mauri, Lou (as per above) and Aarti Benie who are my CaringBridge administrators.  Thank you guys so much for taking this on for me.  It is going to really help me out.  I love all of you so much and I think we should all be in Goa to celebrate my recovery in Nov/Dec 19 - Jan 20. 

* To Jess Samuels, who has set up a room in her flat in Goa for us to stay in once I am signed off to travel.  I do not know when I will get there but I am going to get there.  I do really hope we can spend some time in recovery with you there.  We love you babes.  

* To all my beautiful friends in Goa (you all know who you are) who message and call and are ready to help us when we can get there.  Thank you, I know you have my back.  I love you all so much, I feel you in my heart.  I will see you all soon.  

* Tamsin Warren (Neuro OT) at NeuYou Rehab, a stranger who saw my GoFundMe and has offered to work with me to help me get me back on my feet and at no charge. Thank you, I am so grateful as it is so important that I am physically strong. Hand on my heart Tamsin. Please support Tamsin if you need physio. www.neuyou.rehab

* Little's child restraints who waivered the fee to install a car seat in Maia and Vic's car for Madin to be ferried around. Again this is very generous as I do not know anyone at this company.    www.littleschildrestraints.com.au

Happy Endings Hair Studio, to darling Daniel Skinner who gave me (donated) a gorgeous new cut and colour to help minimise how the surgical shave and the Dr Assaad special (floating fringe) will look. I feel amazing, thank you. Photos to come. If you are looking for an amazing cut and colour in Sydney, please call Daniel.

* To Deborah Linwood (lawyer) and Kerrie Batchelor (Paralegal) at Teece Hodgson and Ward Solicitors who prepared my will, POA and enduring guardianship and guardianship for Madin pro bono.  Thank you.  These are such important documents and I am so relieved that they are in place now.  www.teece.com.au

* To Stella Thorndike and her old boss Tom, who arranged the pro bono lawyers, thank you, guys.  I am really so thankful. It means so much to me to know that this is all in place and that both my baby boy and I are protected as per my wishes for us. 

* To the lady who gave me a travel cot and mattress (in the most amazing condition) thank you so much.  You are incredibly thoughtful and generous.  

* To Vanessa Rosa, thank you so much for lending me a car seat for Madin.  It is in incredible condition and we will return it in the same condition.  Thank you so much.  

* To Alison de la Cour who helped me with payment for some expensive haematology blood tests and been an amazing support for me as I go through the process of having some difficult tests done - which by the way are negative. If I could drink champagne now I would be having a bottle.  Thank you, Alison, (and Simone for introducing us). 

* To Rob Marston (a new friend) who flew all the way from Bryon Bay to take me to the hospital, he borrowed a sportscar and came with his arms filled with gifts and flowers.  I will open the gift you gave to me that day when I go to the hospital this Sunday.  Thank you, darling, I am so honoured to have this new friendship with you. Thank you for also teaching Madin to swim and all the things you do for me.  Way too many to list here. 

* To my Mum and family who will look after Madin when I am in the hospital, thank you all so much. I am sure he is going to have a great time, playing football and cricket and swimming. Please send me photos daily. Thank you for taking Madin, I know he will be ok and I can focus on getting through this surgery and back home again. 

* To Esther and Djuilan who are helping me with some things in Singapore.  Thank you, guys. I love you both so much.  

* To everyone who has donated to my GoFundMe, some of you are friends and some of you are strangers (new friends). Thank you for all the shares and contributions.  Thank you all so much my hand is on my heart.  I have sent everyone a personal message to say thank you and I really do mean it.  This fund has helped me so much already and it will continue to do so.  I am so grateful.  You have all been so thoughtful and kind.  Please keep sharing it wide and far.  We have a long way to go yet. 

* To everyone who has accepted a task on CaringBridge, thank you and I will see you soon.  There are still many more opportunities and tasks available and I will need a lot of help and support.  So please do what you can, every little bit goes such a long way. I am really very thankful for your time and love.

* To everyone who has reached out from Sydney and Internationally to offer help, love, support and friendship thank you. If I have forgotten to mention you personally, I am sorry. it is a long list and I have been trying to keep track of everyone and everything.  I know in my heart who you all are and every message, call and offer of help I will carry with me all my life.  

I am grateful, I am blessed, I am loved and I am conscious of my life and ready to fight my battle.  
Love Jules xx
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