Juanita was born on June 1st, 1989.  She made quite an entry being hastened into this world as her umbilical cord was wound three times around her neck.  There was no cry, her eyes were open and her face calm.  When she was one, the family moved from Lutwyche to Sheldon. In the early days at Sheldon, the family attended Capalaba Uniting Church, and Juanita went to Sunday school with Sharon.  She attended Capalaba preschool in 1994 and it was during this year, just before turning 5, that she was diagnosed with leukaemia. Juanita was treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital for two years, followed by two and a half years of remission. In March 1999, however, she relapsed with leukaemia, and she underwent a bone marrow transplant, in August 1999.  This involved about 26 days of isolation in a hospital room.  She then suffered graft-vs-host disease, which meant more medication. Up until this point, she coped well, but the increase in volume of medication impacted greatly on her mentally resulting in panic attacks and a depression that never really left her. 

Juanita had a strong spirit of adventure.  With scouts, she did various activities including abseiling, canoeing, camping, rock-climbing and hiking.  She had many experiences of flying in hang gliders, sail planes, an ultra-light and a World War 1 Tiger Moth biplane.

Her creative side came out in her love for beading and long-stitch.  Determined as ever, she persevered with the tiniest of beads and most intricate of stitches, even with failing eyesight and shaking hands.  She was also an avid collector, her room strewn with hoards of plastic animals, cloth badges, hat pins and fluffy toys.