Star turn raises a smile at Starship
East And Bays Courier
Relevant offers
Four-year-old Ochearn Perawiti epitomises the Starship Foundation child.
Despite her health problems, the charming little girl still summons a smile for the camera.
Ochearn has been in Starship hospital most of her life.
Her first visit was at the age of one when she had a liver transplant.
She developed lymphoma as a result of the operation.
The Panmure girl is now on her second round of treatment.
In her room a collage of photographs shows her numerous hospital visits and transitions.
"That's my real hair still," she says, pointing at one photograph before pulling her wig off to reveal only wisps of fair hair beneath.
"That's when I was normal," she says casually.
Ochearn has three older sisters and loves music and dance.
She watched the whole season of Dancing with the Stars and adores Candy Lane.
So it was a great thrill to Ochearn and her mum Megan when Mrs Lane visited the youngster in her ward on Tuesday.
The two chatted, discovered they both loved music, dancing, cheetahs and the colour red.
They then had a walk and a bit of a dance in the hospital.
Mrs Lane commended the girl and her family's courage.
She said seeing such people reminded her to be grateful for the good health of her own children.
The Starship Foundation is marking its 15th anniversary with a gala evening called Starry Starry Night.
Held in conjunction with the foundation's sponsors SkyCity, it is an evening of celebration and thanks to the many sponsors and donors over the years, and of objectives realised.
In 15 years $35 million has been raised and put directly into the health care of Kiwi kids.
Actor and part-time Mission Bay resident Lucy Lawless, who is a Starship Foundation Board trustee and the patron, will be flying from Los Angeles especially to attend the event at the SkyCity Auckland Convention Centre tonight.
Funds from the evening will go towards the $3.6m needed to rebuild Starship's cancer ward.
Starship Foundation chief executive Andrew Young says rebuilding the ward will help revolutionise the way young cancer patients are treated in New Zealand.
"It aims to address their social and emotional needs," he says.
"And that will lead to increased survival rates."
