Jessica’s story

In March 1997, Craig’s eldest daughter Jessica Goozee was enjoying life as most young girls do. She was looking forward to turning seven years of age and had turned into the most beautiful looking girl. 

It was during a week of relaxation on a family holiday on the New South Wales Central Coast that the Goozee family discovered something that would change their lives dramatically. 

On the third day of their holiday Jessica discovered a small lump on the inside of her right elbow. After both Craig and wife Lisa had inspected the lump they agreed that they would take Jessica to see the local doctor, Dr Richard Boyle on their return to Sydney and thought nothing more of it. 

However, after returning to Sydney life resumed its hectic pace and it wasn’t until a week or two later when younger sister Kylie developed an ear infection that Lisa remembered to show the doctor the lump on Jessica’s elbow. After giving it the once over Dr Boyle sent them to see a specialist as the lump was solid and very unusual. The appointment was made for the following day and the specialist also didn’t like the feel of the lump and referred Jessica to the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick for further tests.

When Lisa first attended the hospital she was met by Dr Richard Cohn, who after examining the lump in Jessica’s arm, immediately sent Lisa and Jessica to see a surgeon in another part of the hospital who organised an operation to remove the lump and conduct a biopsy.

The day following the operation the Goozee family received the worst news possible, the lump in Jessica’s arm was a tumour. Dr Cohn explained that Jessica had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewings Sarcoma and that the recovery rate for this particular type of cancer was much lower than other types, giving Jessica about a forty percent chance of a full recovery. 

Despite the horrendous news, both Lisa and Craig were surprised that Jessica didn’t flinch upon hearing her diagnosis and wasn’t the least bit worried about losing her hair or starting the intensive treatment. This was to be typical of Jessica’s behaviour, which could only be described as a ‘model patient’. 

The following day Jessica commenced a twelve-month program of ‘Aggressive Chemotherapy’ which entailed visits the hospital every third week for a three or six day period, as well as six weeks of radiation treatment to the right arm where the tumour had been. 

It was during these first two months that Craig spent with Jessica in hospital when he came up with the idea to raise money for the various cancer foundations that Craig had recently learnt so much about. The next thought that came to mind was to complete a marathon to raise the money. This was completely out of the blue as Craig had never completed any type of marathon in any sport and had always been more of a sprinter in his younger years. 

Never the less idea grew and soon Craig had planned an 800km ocean paddle up the East Coast of Australia from Avalon to Broadbeach and A2B4C was born. 

After completing the marathon and with the news that Jessica required no more treatment, the prospect of a normal life began to dawn. Soon after the marathon Craig was invited to Parliament House in Sydney to receive a Parenthood Award’ award during Children’s Week. On the way to the ceremony Craig received a phone call from Lisa who was coming to Parliament House with the children after one of Jessica’s monthly check-ups. 

Lisa’s teary voice brought devastating news – doctors had found a lump back in Jessica’s arm in exact place where the previous tumour had been removed. The agony continued when Craig and Lisa were given no other option than to amputate Jessica’s right arm to stop the chance of the cancer cells spreading. 

Unfortunately however the cancer returned yet again where the arm was amputated, spreading this time into Jessica’s lungs. Sadly this time there was nothing more her doctors could do and Jessica lost her battle with cancer on 24 June, 1999 aged nine.