Seven year old patient Willow May Roberts has been recognised for extraordinary bravery in her battle to overcome bone cancer. Willow was recently presented with the 2025 Suzie Levot Memorial Our Kids Bravery Award at the Our Kids Day Out festival, in Ballina.
The award is presented to a young patient each year in memory of former Lismore Base Hospital nurse Suzie Levot, who was instrumental in helping to create the Our Kids Day Out. Her family continues to be a cherished part of the annual event, which helps to raise funds for sick children.
A proud young Widjabul Wia-bal girl from the Bundjalung nation, Willow was unanimously nominated by staff at Lismore Base Hospital for this year’s award.
The young patient spent time in the Lismore Base Hospital Children’s Ward as well as a significant amount of time at Queensland Children’s Hospital following the discovery of a 5.5cm tumour close to the growth plate on her left femur, later diagnosed as Osteosarcoma.
Willow started her chemotherapy journey with strength and determination in May last year. On 1 August 2024, she became the 10th child in Queensland to undergo a rotationplasty amputation – a complex surgery she faced with incredible resilience.
Proud
Willow’s mum, Martika Janson, says she is extremely proud of her daughter.
‘Willow has shown incredible strength and resilience when faced with the fight of her life. During her amputation operation, she never let anything get her down. The day after her amputation, Willow was on the edge of her bed, scared but brave, doing physiotherapy to get moving – she was unstoppable!’ Ms Janson remembers.
‘Willow said, “I will do everything I did before, it will just take time”.’
Our Kids Fundraising Coordinator Rebekka Battista said Willow was a deserving winner of the annual Suzie Levot Memorial Our Kids Bravery Award. ‘Willow truly deserves to be centre stage at the Our Kids Day Out celebration – she is extraordinary and has shown incredible bravery through her journey,’ Ms Battista said.
Lismore-based charity Our Kids raises funds to purchase paediatric equipment for children’s wards and special care nurseries in the region. This equipment helps children living in the Northern Rivers to receive the medical care they need close to home.
To date, Our Kids has purchased more than $2.7 million in paediatric equipment for the Grafton, Lismore and Tweed hospitals.
To find out more about Our Kids, or to become a financial or in-kind partner, you can contact the Our Kids team on 0438 417 085 or email info@ourkids.org.au.
