The moment that stood still ♡
I sat down at my computer with a plan to write about a gorgeous, young girl who was just way too beautiful for this life. Instead, I sat down and looked at a blank screen wondering how to start writing about the little fire cracker that I remember all too well. I mean how do you write about such a kind soul, words just didn’t seem to do any justice. And when I say kind, I mean this kid! Seriously, she was some kind of feisty, go getter that had a heart of gold! What kind of kid knocks on the bathroom door to offer someone a donut, when they are hung over with their head in the toilet? (Yup that person with their head in the toilet, may or may not have been me after one of our slightly larger, and slightly unexpected nights after a long day at netball). Hayley Spinks was that kid! She thought of everyone else and always with a huge beaming smile on her face. This kid had open heart surgery at 8 weeks old, she had every reason to think of herself- but never did. She was always bouncing around chatting to everyone and anyone. I can just see her now running around our local netball club, in and out the footy club impacting every person that she met. I know a lot of footy boys that she had wrapped around her finger. Hayley just had a love for life that was so large and refreshing.
Hayley was born on the 15th of January 1998 with congenital heart disease and diagnosed with truncus arteriosis when she was 6 days old. Which means Hayley was born with a birth defect of the heart. It occurs when the blood vessel coming out of the heart in a growing baby fail to separate leaving a connection between the aorta and pulmonary artery. After her first heart surgery at 8 weeks old, the doctors had to wait until Hayley was 12 to have follow up surgery. In September 2010, she was able to have this surgery which was hugely successful. At the time I was overseas, and I remember following along, watching her progress through Facebook posts from her mum, Kim.
On 9th January 2011, very unexpectedly Hayley collapsed and stopped breathing. She had an unexplained cardiac arrhythmia, where her heart rhythm was disturbed. As her heart was working overtime already, it just didn’t cope. She was airlifted to Adelaide and placed on life support. She was placed on special machines to assist her heart and lungs and she fought with all her might, but on the 13th January 2011 she stopped responding and passed away. It was a moment when time stood still, a moment that I will never forget, two days before her 13th birthday. As I sit here and write about her, all I think about is her beaming smile, with those skinny little legs and infectious giggle. She would have been 21 tomorrow and I can imagine it would have been the biggest event.
Hayley’s mum is running a fundraising event and a party for Hayley’s 21st this is happening this weekend. A fundraising page has been set up to coincide with a fundraising event to contribute to ensure research continues into congenital heart disease. The funds raised will be donated to the Victor Chang Institute, a well-respected research facility that is dedicated to finding cures for cardiovascular disease. Their mission is through an understanding of the fundamentals of cardiovascular biology is to find relief from pain and suffering.
To a kid that lived every day and didn’t leave a thing in the tank. To a kid that was all so cheeky, but so generous. To a kid who was full of life, but not afraid to tell you to jump. Hayley Spinks, a beautiful, caring young lady that was taken away from us all too soon.
If you would like to donate please click on the link: https://give.everydayhero.com/au/hearts-for-hayley-2-1