Letter from Friends

Keeping my words short as possible:  long letter attached.

The back-story in short is that through a newspaper artice, I found out the all the toys had been sorted for Nico before the Toybox auction started. The ladies advised me one person wanted to buy a toy outright and I found out after a few days that it was a friend's mum and sinster-in-law. I was lost for words, I doubt I said more than "OMG, how lovely!! Say thanks!!" and still haven't expressed my gratitude nearly enough. It arrived last week. Here is a pic of Nico with it.

Laughing at Elmo after dinner.

The other three, the only hint I got from the organisers was "It is a surprise. All I can say is you have some amazing friends" and I figured that many small cash donations had come in or a group have done a whip around and bought one.

So, as if I hadn't had enough tears over the last few weeks from being overwhelmed by kindness and gratitude... yesterday I got this: (I changed took out names in case they did not want to be identified. When I get confirmation, will change)


Dear Kazz and Geoff,

I'd like to start by saying that Tom and I have always thought you were wonderfully warm, kind and generous people.

How truly that has been demonstrated over the past 2 years when your patience and willingness to love has been tested more than most.

We have sat on the sidelines, feeling useless, wanting do to more but restricted by time, illness and distance, only being able to give a kind word now and then or a an occasional knitted gift or general encouragment. We always wished there was a little more we could do to help you all.

When I first saw your blog where you talked about Nico only having the toy on loan I knew immediately that giving Nico this toy was something I could do to help. Husband and I talked about it and decided we would give you the money for the toy.

However when 'Nico's toybox' came along I wasn't sure what to do, to let the auction go ahead or still give the money for the toys. The great thing about the auction was that they listed the toys he needed, and where to get them from. This allowed me to do some research.

I found out that all the toys are regular toys but they have just been modified to fit 3mm plug for the switch, and some have had additional modifications for things like stability. The 3mm plug modification are all done here in Australia, but toys with other modification are done in the U.S. I found out how to modify the toys myself to fit the plug (or get a sparky to do it - but it's a 2 second solder job), but further modificatons can't really be done at home.

In the process of finding out all of this I found out that the butterfly spinner, the air-tivity ball popper and the triceratops weren't available at Tec-sol anymore (gone for more than 6mths), nor where they available anywhere else in Aus.

They did of course have the big red twist switch which we bought and received weeks ago. It is here, all wrapped up for Nico.

I started looking overseas and was able to find the butterfly spinner and the air-tivity ball popper in the U.S at the company that modifies them and then on sells them to other companies such as Tec-sol. Only problem was, you needed to be a U.S resident to buy it.

Okay, new hurdle. Then I started looking into ways I could possibly have something shipped myself from there to here, supposing the company would agree to that. I stumbled upon the answer, and am now a proud resident of Connecticut!

So the company shipped the packages to Connecticut, and then they were shipped from there and are now on their way here (they are at Melbourne Airport customs now.) So I'm expecting them here early next week!

Next thing was to sort out the triceratops. Little harder as Fisher Price hasn't made them in about 2 years. After a week of watching Ebay (in all different countries!) and looking on other sites I finally found one new and in a box on Ebay in the U.S. But, the seller was away until the 7th of July, so I couldn't purchase it until then. Shipping is fine, straight to Aus, so we should see it next week or the week after.

Only problem is it's obviously not adapted. Two choices, I can give it to Tom to solder the plug on, or I can take it to Tec-sol and get them to do it. I think I will take it to Tec-sol, as although I think Tom could do it, I'd rather not test him out on something that was the only one left on the planet!

So basically, all the toys and the switch are sorted and on their way.

We really love you all, and this is a way we can help you out and and make your lives a little easier.

Lots of love,


Bec, Tom and Steph


Aside from saying "I want to call you right now but I can't speak, I am bawling" I couldn't think of a single thing that would even start to express what I was feeling.


I still can't.