Sharyn Smart talks with Sarah Devine about the legacy her daughter Gabby left behind in the form of Starlit HOPE.
Angel “Gabby Devine” reached heaven on the 15th May 2015
Even though Gabby Devine now resides in heaven she is still having a major impact down here on earth.
Her most recent award was accepted by her parents, Sarah and Roland Devine at the New Zealand of the Year Awards where Gabby was awarded the Local Hero Award.
“Gabby is the youngest person to ever receive the award as they usually only accept nominations from those 15 years and older.
“I’m sure she is looking down pleased with the impact she is making as she is inspiring others to make Random Acts of Kindness which is a beautiful legacy to leave.”
Gabby’s list of awards and recognitions are a huge achievement in her short 13 years of life. Never one to sit still for long she always had a project on the go which centred on helping others while living day to day with a terminal tumor.
A bubbly, caring kind teenager who always puts others first Gabby had huge strength and determination. Never the type of person who accepted “No” she worked tirelessly right to her last breath ensuring that child cancer patients, their families and hospital staff all received random acts of kindness to brighten their days.
Roland and Sarah got Gabby a dog to her keep her company during her illness. Her brother Patrick has autism and at that stage was a non-verbal seven-year-old. He could say a version of “Gobby” and so Gabby named the dog Abby so Patrick could say her name.
“On her Facebook she had all these other suggestions for names. Some of these names were nice but she was like I can’t name her any of those because what would be the point when Patrick couldn’t say the dog’s name. That is just how sweet she is.”
In February 2012 she was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma (a rare type of bone cancer). Gabby suddenly went from a fit happy and healthy teenager to a frequent patient to the oncology ward over the next two years.
What started out as a cough which was ravaging the family set off months of appointments and the discovery of a very large, rare tumor. The tumor filled her whole left side, the entire chest wall cavity was a tumor and even her heart had been moved along with her organs which had all been pushed off to the side.
Gabby went through an aggressive form of treatment including over 21 rounds of chemotherapy and 31 days of radiation to shrink the tumor and then had a major 11 hour surgery to remove it. This surgery resulted in them also removing a quarter of her lung and four ribs which then caused scoliosis, an S-Shaped spine.
The Devine family have huge respect and praise for Starship staff as they did everything they could to cure Gabby of the cancer and she spent many months of the next year in their care.
“The one thing with Starship is they have really good care and what they know is just amazing and world class.”
Gabby quickly discovered that these hospitals visits were boring and way too long. Sarah spent many hours purchasing items and creating activity bags for Gabby which she shared with other children.
Realising the importance of these boxes Gabby went on to create and gift her own boredom buster boxes. These boxes now go to the main oncology centres at Starship and Christchurch.
Her compassion for others quickly took over and she would pack a suitcase just for a day trip. When the nurses asked why she had such a big bag for a visit she explained that it was full of presents.
“She wasn’t going up there for chemo. She was going up there to give the presents. She became like a little santa. The children knew when Gabrielle was in the room there was presents and fun.”
Sarah and Roland found themselves struggling to keep up with their daughter’s generosity financially and started up a Facebook page. Gabby’s passion and desire to help others turned into RAK’s (Random Acts of Kindness) which spread like wildfire all around the world.
“The thing that I like about it is Gabby wouldn’t have been impressed by it. She would have thought this is boring. I think when you normally do things you want the recognition, you want the thanks and love the feedback. Gabby did it because she really, really, really enjoyed doing it.
“She never really cared about the money but just wanted to do the random acts of kindness and have an empty bank account and a full heart.”
Gabby decided that seeing the whole chemo process drip through was disgusting. One day she made a super hero cape and hung it over her pole and started a whole different trend.
“That started her thinking ‘I want the kids, who are all superheroes to have capes.’ These capes really took off as the kids would wear them to their appointments. The mums would send me pictures of these kids walking down the hallway wearing their superhero cape. Gabby’s aim was to supply every cancer child with a superhero cape and her Starlit HOPE is continuing to do this.
“One oncology mum said these capes are giving the kids more courage because they are felling they are superheroes.”
After a huge battle for her health Gabby finally went into remission in February 2013 and put all her energy towards setting up Starlit HOPE.
Starlit HOPE now hands out Super hero bravery packs, giant boredom boxes to children undergoing radiation, provides RAK’s to oncology children, their families and staff during special celebrations like Easter, Christmas, Mothers Day, Fathers Day and provides small birthday parties for Taranaki oncology children as well as supplying the childrens ward in New Plymouth with items to make a child’s stay more entertaining.
She has also organised restaurants to do RAKs by taking turns providing dinners to families staying at the oncology wards as well as sending bereaved parents RAKs on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Another big mission for Gabby was to make the children’s Ward at New Plymouth Base Hospital a better place to stay. Sarah and Roland ensure that a share of any fundraising goes back into this project. They have purchased DVDs and portable players, art supplies, board games and books to name a few and have big plans for more things.
“Gabrielle did have a thing about NP Hospital. She had a big passion about making it more interesting and more enjoyable for the kids up there.”
Sarah has set up her office in Gabby’s bedroom and feels she is still with her looking over her shoulder ensuring she is making the right decisions for Starlit Hope.
“When her cancer came back I sat her down and said do you want to give this up (Starlit Hope) because you know your cancer has come back? But you know it made her more determined. That’s why I think the girl was determined to make a change. She was determined to make a difference. In her own little way I think she encourages others too.
“I miss her immensely and I think it is extremely unfair she has gone. I think it absolutely sucks. In her short 13 years she has actually achieved so much!
“Anyone can be inspired to do random acts of kindness. I think of what a great gift Gabby has left as she has inspired others to do Random Acts of Kindness.”
If you would like to contribute you can contact Sarah and Roland at Gabby’s Starlit HOPE via Facebook, givealittle.co.nz/cause/gabbystarlithope or www.starlithope.org.nz
Tammie Pittwood Photography supplied her photos as a RAK
You can contact her on 021 1433575 06 or 7591984 or email her at tammiepittwood@hotmail.com
“Anyone can be inspired to do random acts of kindness.” Gabby Devine