Despite efforts by her mother Kelly Bonanno to prepare her for the side-effects of chemotherapy, the Warrawong girl was utterly confused when her hair started to fall out. And she still wonders what she did to ‘cause’ the condition.

‘’Grace was diagnosed with autism when she was eight, and she finds it hard to explain how she’s feeling,’’ Ms Bonanno said.

‘’She also doesn’t like to be touched or to follow instructions so it’s been a challenge to get her through the intensive treatment regime that followed her diagnosis at 13 with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in April 2015.

‘’It’s really hard to explain why certain things are happening – like hair loss – and she still tries to analyse what it was she did to cause the leukaemia, when there’s no known cause for it.’’

Grace has suffered setbacks throughout the two-year treatment program, from steroid-induced diabetes to severe neurotoxicity which led to her relying on a wheelchair for 10 months.

She also developed an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection, which meant she had to be isolated during her treatment.

Thankfully the program will end next month, and with Grace in remission it means she’ll get a bit more ‘’normality’’ back in her life.

Still the journey has taken its toll – on Grace and her family, including her five brothers. Ms Bonanno has had to give up work to care for her daughter, and the family has struggled with medical costs.

Ms Bonanno said she was delighted to last month receive a grant of $4000 from the Illawarra Community Foundation – with funds raised from the 2016 i98FM Illawarra Convoy. ‘’It includes vouchers for our local pharmacy for Grace’s ongoing medication, as well as food vouchers which will come in very handy.’’

Convoy creator, i98FM announcer Marty Haynes encouraged other local families in need to come forward.

‘’We encourage any family who has been struggling with a potentially life-threatening illness to apply for funding,’’ he said. 

‘’Supporting families who are doing it tough, especially where kids are suffering, is the reason we do convoy every year. Seeing the relief our funding can bring a family like Grace’s is what it’s all about.’’

Details at www.illawarraconvoy.com.au