Lencia goes home for Christmas

Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) at the age of three, Lencia has spent more time in hospital in her short life than most people would in a lifetime. Now seven, Lencia has finally returned to New Caledonia, just in time for Christmas.
Lencia’s challenging journey started in December 2020, when, under the care of her grandmother, Marie, she was flown to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead (CHW) for cancer treatment.
"In the beginning, it was very difficult for Lencia. She had never been sick before, so everything was new to her. However, as time went on, it became easier, and she handled it well. She is truly brave," said Marie.

Upon arriving at CHW, Lencia underwent an intensive 18 months of chemotherapy and radiation. Unable to return home, Lencia was introduced with Justine Verreydt, a French-speaking Education Program Coordinator for the Back on Track (BOT) program.
The Back on Track program, proudly supported by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF), provides educational support for children and young people, like Lencia, diagnosed with cancer across Sydney Children’s Hospital Network (SCHN).
The program supports children from kindergarten to Year 12, offering a coordinated approach to help patients remain connected to their education, peers, and school community from diagnosis, through treatment and recovery and then helping to transition them back to school.
“Justine has given Lencia the strength and courage to focus on more than just her illness and treatment, providing a connection to normal life. Each time they met, Lencia was filled with happiness, reminding her that school is still part of her life - keeping that connection is so important,” Marie said.
In June 2022, Lencia was cancer-free and was able to return home. However, the relief was short-lived. Just two months later, Lencia relapsed and needed to return to CHW for further treatment.
Lencia underwent a successful bone marrow transplant, followed by another year in hospital while she recovered. During this time, she was also reunited with Justine – their bond as strong as ever.
"It has been such a pleasure to work with Lencia. Each phase of treatment brought its own set of challenges, requiring a personalized learning plan tailored to her daily physical and emotional needs. Despite these obstacles, she has made remarkable progress," Justine said.
For families from New Caledonia, like Lencia’s, their journey poses additional challenges, like relocating to a new country and learning a new language. This is where Justine’s support has been so vital.

"When Lencia first arrived as a preschooler, her activities centered around language development, play, discovery, and expression," Justine said.
"Now, as a Year 1 student, our focus has shifted to reading, writing, and math. We tailor these activities to her school level, adjusting the pace to meet her individual needs and ensuring she experiences a sense of achievement."
Following positive results from a recent scan, Lencia has now returned home to New Caledonia, just in time to celebrate Christmas with her family,
Having celebrated three birthdays and Christmases in hospital, Lencia and Marie both feel incredibly fortunate to have reached this milestone but bittersweet about the leaving the place they call their ‘home away from home’.
“Lencia and I have been a part of this community for so long that leaving feels like stepping away from the life we’ve come to know,” Marie said.
Lencia is eagerly anticipating her return to school in New Caledonia next February. She will now only need to travel back to the hospital every three months for a routine check up and can finally start the next chapter of her life.

“We are deeply grateful for the exceptional care Lencia has received at the hospital,” Marie said.
“The staff have been extremely compassionate, ensuring that we felt understood despite language barriers. They always found ways to communicate with us, allowing me to express myself and feel supported.”
From October 2023-2024, the Back on Track Program has experienced a significant increase in participation with the average number of participants across the Network surpassing 300. This growth underscores the program’s success in reaching more young people in need of this service.
“Contributing to learning is vital for maintaining hope, envisioning the future, and fostering healing. Donations are essential to the existence and sustainability of services such as Back on Track, ensuring we continue to make a positive impact on these young lives,” Justine said.
To help support programs like Back on Track, make a donation to Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation.