A Tale of Friendship
Nadine got in touch last week as she was enquiring about shipping Momiji dolls Dina & Liona to Australia for herself and her best friend, Leonna. We got chatting and she told us this story. We asked if we could share it with you guys...
“Leonna and I met in December 2011. Her beautiful husband Brendan and I worked together and us girls were seated next to each other at the work Christmas party. Leonna is a COMPLETE riot!, she’s the life of the party...hysterically funny and we instantly fell in BFF love with each other. We’re both September 1972 babies; a good vintage! She is 10 days older than me and we have so much in common.
I have been so terribly frightened for 12 months watching her fight, but brave, beautiful, strong Leonna continued without batting an eyelid.
Leonna got diagnosed with cancer close to our birthdays last year. The phone call was an hour long, mostly silence whilst we both cried as she told me her news. We were now in different cities after she moved to Queensland 2 years before and I had remained in Newcastle, about 900 kms away.
Leonna asked me to come and babysit last December during her 10th round of chemotherapy. She doesn’t have family who could help her out and her friends ARE her family. I flew to Brisbane as her wonderful husband Brendan had to travel to Sydney for work. Their medical bills were astronomical so poor Leonna did most of her treatment journey on her own.
I watched my darling, beautiful and now very bald, very sick, very weak bestie fight for her life as poison trickled into her veins. I have been so terribly frightened for 12 months watching her fight, but brave, beautiful, strong Leonna continued without batting an eyelid. She has just clawed through all the pain and suffering and has come out the other side roaring like a lion. She is so strong and alive!
It was such a crazy coincidence that Momij created Dina and Liona as BFFs. My nickname as a child was Dino, now Deenii and Leonna has always been the epitome of a brave strong Lioness. We truly are BFFs forever, through thick and thin, good times and bad - she is the missing piece to my puzzle as I am to her. We are not complete without each other, despite being miles apart.
My nickname as a child was Dino, now Deenii and Leonna has always been the epitome of a brave strong Lioness.
The "R" word was muttered by Oncologist, James a few months ago but we don’t say it too loudly. Her hair and brows (typical vain Lioness! Lol!) have started growing back and despite a few side effects from that vile chemo, she is growing stronger and doing well every day. She is an inspiration and really personifies the pride, strength and courage of a lion, with a roar and fire in her belly just as strong!
Me..? I am the loyal Dina... cold blooded like a reptile but warm in heart and of loyalty that would stand the test of time for the right friend.... my BFF!”
Thank you so much to Nadine for getting in touch and to Leonna for allowing us to share her story. If you have a friendship story about Momiji we'd love to hear from you.
