Thailand would have to have been Madonnas favourite country. She loved the people, the food, rhe way of life, and most of all she loved the shopping as everything was so cheap. She. Loved a bargain and she soon learned to barter.
Madonna spoke to her Dad about moving into a flat and trying out independant living and asked him to talk to me about. She thought i'd say "no" but that wasnt the case. I helped her find a flat, not far from home, and Kristen and Craig came up with truck load og furniture etc and we moved her in in October 2010. How proud she was of her new home.
She rang me every morning at 6 to let me know she was okay. How she loved to cook pikelets and invite people for mirning tea.
She prepared xmas dinner that year for Mick, myself and her. What a great meal it was too. She was so proud of herself and we had the lovliest xmas with her.
On January 9th, she told me that she had a lump in her breast. She had found it on New Years Eve. We went to the Dictor the next day and she had a series of tests and a mamagram. On January 12th we were advised that she had an agressive cancer in her breast. We Were shattered. Kristen was with us for each Doctors visit and i couldnt have got through this without her. The Doctor also told us that her liver had a secondary cancer and that there was little hope but that he wanted to try chemo to extend her life. She took the news better than I thought.....she sat wringing her tiny hands and when asked by Dr Shreiber if she had any questions....she quietly said "why me?" Kristen and I could barely control our emotions. He told her that she had jumped many hurdles in her life and this was just one more.......her reply was......i dont think i can jump this one.
So began days of blood tests and xrays. Madonna became nauseas. Her warfarin was cut out. The nausea worsened. She was hospitalised. On th 18th we were told that she had tumours in her lungs as well. We informed Tony and he decided to come home from the States to her. Kit went back to Bundaberg for a break. On Sunday 23rd Dr. Shreiber said she could come home for the day. She was happy that day and I cut her hair for her. By 26th january she was extremely tired, but fiund the strength to talk to Tony, Athena and Lachlan. I stayed the night with her and the staff were so caring and helpful. Kristen came and Madonna was moved to Palliative Care. Tony was on his way and i hoped he would get here in time. Kristen and I stayed at the hospital with her. I told her Tony was on his way, and that he really wanted to see her. I am sure she understood and waited for him. On 29th January, her breathing was very laboured. That night she was given a mirohine injection and she had a restful night. Dr Schreiger is shocked to learn that she is in Palliative Care and he comes down to see her.
30th January, 2011. Kristen and I woke that morning beside Madonna. We were still waiting for Tony to arrive. Michael came up and it was so hard for him as well. Tony arrived that night at about 8 and he told her he was there and that he had seen a dead skunk driving to JFK airport. (This was a private joke with us and Madonna.). We think she gave a wry smile to that. Tony was exhausted and Mick took him home at about 10 p.m. to go to bed. Kristen and I settled down into our makeshift beds beside Madonna. I woke to hear her breathing heavily, Kristen and I went to her and she passed away at 10.20p.m. Our beautiful girl was with the angels.
Madonna was cremated on 7th of February, and Athena just made it in time to read the Eulogy which was written by Kristen - it was beautiful. I was so proud if Madonna on that day as the chappel was full, 60 seats outside were full and other people were standing. She had touched so many lives and was loved by so many. R I P.
;Madonna spent her early years at Central State School where her Dad taught. She really struggled at school, both academically and socially. Her friend Dorothy, looked out for her in the playground and would take on the bullies if they annoyed Madonna. By the time she reached Grade 7, we thought about her attending High School.   At this time the Gladstone High School was bursting at the seams and i felt she would be rucified if she went there, so on the advice of psychologist we enrolled her into the RosellaPark Special School. Madonna was in her element here.  She knew her tabkes, she could read and write and was a whiz with her money. This gave her esteem a remarkable boost.From here she went to the Endeavour Foundation where she met her boyfriend Rick and made lifelong friends there, such as Jackie, Linda and Annie. She worked there for many years and her first 'pay packet' contained $1. Her friends had $4 in their oackets. So my Madonna said that it was an insult and she gave them back her dollar. I approached the Board and complained about thus injustice and eventually her wafe went up.   </p><p>Madonna was a real  mentor to the clients and they would ask for her assistance if they had an issue with the staff.  She had no fear of speaking up for her friends if the situation needed it. </p><p>She was a very frugal person and she and her friends played Ten Pin and Madonna would pick them up in her car and drop them home.  For this  they paid her the princely sum of $3.  The important part of the night out was to vusit the Ice Creamery and the owner used to watch out for them every Thursday night.  I was touched that that man even came to her funeral. She used to put that money in a safe place and saved it for the registration of her car.   She never spent coins, they were saved and this paid for her Car Insurance.   </p><p>Madonna and Rick became an item and they enjoyed a holiday in Cairns together and then they went to Melbourne.  She met up with Trevor and he was most imoressed about her druving down there.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
