Battling Helaina in dream trip to Big Apple

A TEENAGER who recently enjoyed an 18th birthday she thought she would never see is rounding off her special year in style.

Helaina Stone, who has battled a lifetime of illness and overcome major medical problems is going to New York thanks to children’s charity Wish Upon a Star.

The trip of a lifetime has hinged on whether Helaina was thought well enough to fly - and doctors have given her the all clear.

Helaina’s ecstatic mum Cath said they will fly off at the end of November: “She can’t wait, she went to New York in 2002 after winning a Child of Courage award, and this is her last chance to have a wish granted by Wish Upon a Star because she is now 18.

“We’re going to do lots of Christmas shopping, go to Central Park — we’re all so excited.”

Helaina — who has Costello syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes physical disabilities, learning difficulties and speech problems — astounded doctors by reaching her milestone 18th birthday in June.

She has twice fought back from cancer and survived brain and open-heart surgery.








Only a small number of our daily stories appear, heavily edited, on this site. For the full story read our print or eChron editions.