Community & Business
18 October, 2021
Missy’s final wish fulfilled
WHEN young Malanda girl Missy Clarkson was diagnosed with Leukemia, she told her mother Anj Mittelstadt that when she dies, she wanted all her clothes donated to Ruth’s women’s shelter.
WHEN young Malanda girl Missy Clarkson was diagnosed with Leukemia, she told her mother Anj Mittelstadt that when she dies, she wanted all her clothes donated to Ruth’s women’s shelter.
Missy had read an article asking for teens and kids to donate their clothes due to a shortage of sizes fit for teens in the shelter, which led her to make her dying wish.
Anj laughed at the thought, not believing that cancer would ever take away her daughter, but four years later she now fulfills her daughters dying wish.
“She was such a clever and determined young girl and she was so aware of helping others around her which is where this donation idea came from,” she said.
“She saw an article about how Ruth’s Women’s Shelter needed middle of the road clothes for girls and boys because some of the women had teen children and there was a lack of clothes for them.
“She said to me, “mum if I do die, give my clothes to the women’s shelter” and two days before she passed, we made a list of where all her prized possessions would go and she reminded me to take her clothes to the ladies in need.”
Now, a year and a half after Missy’s passing, Anj put the call out to the Malanda and Tablelands community to respectfully donate their clothes and hygiene products with her in honor of her late daughter.
“Originally I put it out to just the Malanda community, but I opened it up to the whole Tablelands and I was blown away by how thoughtful everyone was when donating some of their gorgeous clothing,” Anj said.
“I did this over the school holidays so parents could mindfully engage with their kids and their possessions and give thought to the women who have nothing at the shelter.
“I was so thankful for everyone’s donations and how they cared for them and just the thought of people letting go of the clothes because I know letting go of the memories associated with the clothes can be a really hard task.”
The task of cleaning out Missy’s closet was one that will stick with Anj for a lifetime, and she says that she is so happy that with the help of the community she was able to fulfil her final thoughtful wish.
“It’s so nice to fulfil one of her wishes and it’s a bit of her that we had to keep and now is helping others, which is what Missy would have loved,” she said.
“When you lose your child, time goes by and as a mother you’re left with most of her memories, and I think it’s so important to keep Missy’s legacy going and keeping her kind and caring heart going.
“I’m humbled by the Tablelands people who donate clothes and the people who are constantly donating through Missy’s Donors.”
Throughout Missy’s treatment, she went through 170 bags of blood products in four years and Missy’s Donors continue to donate for the thousands of people reliant on blood donations every day. For more information visit www.facebook.com/Missys- Donors
