Eagles Angels News

Thank-you to Angels

10/6/2006

By ZORBA

THEY say in life if you can count your good mates on one hand then you are doing well.

Former champion heptathlon and triathlon star Nici Andronicus and her husband Paul McClean have found out in the past six months that they have many many more.

They have also been reminded that our beautiful stretch of peninsula we call God's Country is home to people with kind hearts.

Like a good many people who have a dreaded form of cancer thrown at them in their middle age, Paul McClean left his wife and four children behind in their Balgowlah home for treatment overseas, not knowing where the money would come from to pay the huge medical bills.

On April 2 he started receiving large doses of chemotherapy at the Harvard University Medical School in Boston under the supervision of Dr Norbert Liebsch, widely recognised as one of the only specialists worldwide treating an extremely rare cancer of the tear duct, called adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimil gland (ACC).

The final burst of treatment was administered on Wednesday and Paul McClean was on the first plane out of the US and arrived back in Sydney on Thursday night to an emotional welcome from his pregnant wife and adoring children Annabel (14), Ash (12), Lexie (4) and little Ava (2).

After lots of hugs and chats it was time for a brief rest and then off to the football at Brookvale Oval where the Sea Eagles hosted the Wests Tigers last night.

More than 12 weeks of the most intensive treatment away from home, family and loved ones can take its toll.

The smell of fresh air, hot dogs, smiling mates and the roar of the crowd at Brookie can work wonders.

Some time over this long weekend at their Balgowlah home Nici and Paul will count their blessings and start thinking about another miracle to come into their lives.

The birth of their newest baby - some time in the next week!

I looked in awe at Nici at the microphone in front of more than 450 people at Manly League Club last Saturday night.

She looked radiant, gorgeous and in control of a very difficult situation.

Here was a young woman who early in her life competed as a pentathlete and triathlete for her country in international meets, facing demons and pressure like never before in a sporting career.

What seemed a perfect lifestyle had been turned upside down and inside out shortly after returning from a family trip to London last Christmas to visit Paul's family.

But people don't wear the green and gold in tough and demanding sports tests like pentathlons and triathlons without possessing loads of courage. These people find a way to win.

Nici refused to accept the 35 per cent survival rate for the vicious disease which has a tendency to spread to the brain, lungs and liver via the nervous system.

She worked the net to find the hope and skill needed to face the challenge and Dr Liebsch in Boston was her target.

He had treated 18 patients with ACC during the past eight years with a $US150 million proton radiation machine.

Every one of the 18 remain alive and free of any recurrence or spread of the horrible original tumour. Paul McClean now likes the number 19.

And thanks to predominantly peninsula people, the $275,000 cost of the treatment is no longer a big problem.

Last Saturday night was one of those special evenings attended by special people willing to open their hearts and pockets for a mate in trouble.

Nici Andronicus and her family can't thank everyone personally but they remain amazed at the community support.

And Nici wants to publicly thank her 12 close friends who in a short time organised a brilliant function.

The group consists of women from Manly village, Balgowlah Heights and Queenwood schools, the Manly Life Saving Club and the incredibly fantastic Eagles Angels (of which Nici is a member).

And no night could have been successful without an outstanding and caring MC where once again Wendy Harmer gave generously of her time and talent for a friend in need. So here is the team - take a breakfast bow this morning on the night after Paul McClean didn't have to talk to his children and wife on the web camera after a day of treatment for the first time in three months.

You are angels - Amanda Jones, Anna Alvsdotter, Attracta Wolahan, Darrell Sumpter (ring in bloke), Kate Cope, Kerry Lawson, Leesa Monk, Lori Szambowski, Louise Robinson, Lucy Corben, Many Acton, Mary Finkelson, Sandy McIndoe, Sharon Galpin, Sharyn Bradley and Therese van Brugge.

And welcome home, Macca.

 

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