Robyn Connor, 16, thanks the owner of Miss Gowns in Berwick, Loraine Marshall.
By Kelly Yates
FOR many mothers, their daughter’s debutante ball is a night of glitz and glam, but for Berwick’s Lyn Connor, her daughter Robyn’s was an emotional night she thought would never come.
Mrs Connor’s life was turned upside down when her daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of seven.
Ten years later, after only initially having an 80 per cent chance of surviving, the 16-year-old danced the night away at the Kambrya College debutante ball last Friday night.
Robyn spent years battling leukaemia, having total body radiation, chemotherapy and then a bone marrow transplant on her 12th birthday.
Mrs Connor said the debutante ball was a “milestone” for Robyn and her family.
The Year 11 student’s dreams of taking part in the deb ball were further made possible with Miss Gowns in Berwick offering to make Robyn a dress to mark the special occasion, free of charge.
Robyn had been shopping in the store for the perfect dress but because of her tiny frame, had no luck finding one to fit.
Loraine Marshall, the owner of Miss Gowns, said she didn’t have a dress in the store which was small enough to fit Robyn.
“I suggested they get a gown made to measure and then heard about her battle with leukaemia,” Ms Marshall said.
“It was then that I decided to donate a dress to Robyn.”
The crisp white dress, with a lace body and tulle skirt, was made in only a few weeks.
Mrs Connor said she was excited when she heard Robyn was getting her dream dress.
“It was just awesome,” she said.
“It’s nice to think that even four and a half years on from the transplant, the community is still willing to give.”
Mrs Connor said Robyn’s diagnosis came as a “complete shock.”
“Robyn was knocked down by a car in the street and doctors thought she had a fractured skull,” she said.
“They did some blood tests and then discovered she had leukaemia.”
Mrs Connor said it felt like her world was “crumbling.”
“But you just have to deal with it,” she said.
“And watching Robyn do her deb ball is a night I’ll never forget.”
