|
.
Sarah was previously referred
to as "Lisa Eastley" who was forced by DoCS
to have chemotherapy against her will, in an ordeal that started
2 years ago when she was diagnosed with cancer. During the past
9 months, her health had been relatively stable while being
treated holistically by Dr. Eckard Roehrich who stood up in
court for the family's rights to choose the valid
treatment of their choice for their daughter.
.
I wrote the story of this family's plight in an article
entitled DoCS-Stealing our Children for Medicine. The (DoCS) department
attempted to put a gag order on the publication of this
story and the Supreme Court ordered that I further
de-identify the story. I complied with this order in
December 2003.
.
A few weeks after Dr. Roehrich's efforts in Court he heard
from the NSW Medical Board who took action against him which
culminated in the suspension of his licence five weeks ago.
.
Sarah who looked well and vibrant
in July 2004 when the above photograph was taken, began to
deteriorate when her regular treatments with Dr. Roehrich
stopped. Her parents were forced to search interstate for a
similar treatment but by then she had become critically ill.
.
Sarah Westley, the beloved 13 year old daughter of Mark and
Dianne, died on the late evening of October 25, 2004. She
left behind 4 sisters and a brother, and adoring parents and
grandparents. She was loved by all her close and loving family,
extended family and friends.
.
Sarah has touched the hearts of thousands during her short
life. Her parent's intention is to carry out one of Sarah's
last wishes, to prevent other children from having to endure
what she had to endure at the hands of the "welfare"
authorities who prevented Sarah from spending her last years
in carefree comfort at home on the farm with her family. Her
last weeks were spent in another state instead of her
familiar surroundings. Sarah was completely aware of this
injustice and the cause of it, throughout her ordeal, and
she made many forthright references about what she thought
should be done about it.
.
Her family has now brought her home to rest in the family
fold.
.
Her funeral was held on Saturday October 30 at 11:30 on the
family homestead and attended by over 200 of her family and
friends. She rests in her once favourite spot, a sun
drenched hill, overlooking the homestead with a scenic
mountain range in the background.
.
This message is conveyed with the kind permission of Mark
and Dianne whose courage and strength of spirit has been an
inspiring and humbling experience for all who have had the
privilege of knowing them.
.
Eve Hillary
November 2, 2004 |
