When Tamara Tomato was told that she had an interview with Sports Star Jessica Payne and she, like you, asked the question…."Who is Jessica Payne and what sport does she play?" You see Jessica isn't yet famous for any major sporting achievements, but she is still a sports star!
Jessica is a 13 year old who loves to play a variety of sports every day at school and with her friends, but she has only been able to do this recently. When she was much younger, she was diagnosed with Brittle Bones Disorder and it was so bad that she was restricted to a wheelchair!
However, thanks to some extremely smart Professors and staff at the New Children's Hospital at Westmead, she has been on a treatment for her disease called Pamidronate and she can now play sports like any other kid.
Jessica may not be as famous as Cathy Freeman or Ian Thorpe, but she sure is one of Australia's sports stars in our books.
Tamara:
Hi Jessica. How are you? I don't know a lot about Brittle Bones
Disorder, so can you tell me a little bit about it?
Jessica:
Sure Tamara. I am a bit of an expert on it, unfortunately!!!! My bones were
very brittle and I had many fractures that were painful. Now, after the amazing
treatment (Pamidronate) from the new Children's Hospital at Westmead under
Professor David Silence and his amazing staff at the hospital, they are much
stronger. I am now considered normal, or as close as. Before the treatment,
I was restricted to using a wheelchair at school and whenever we went anywhere
ouside of the house or on holidays. All I ever wanted was to be normal so
I could do everything my brother Andrew and all of the other kids were able
to do. Now I can and I have the Children's Hospital and the Professor to thank
so much for all they have done for me. They have changed my life sooooooooooooo
much!
Tamara:
Wow! What a story! How old were you when you were diagnosed with Brittle Bone
Disorder?
Jessica:
I was 6 years old when it was diagnosed, but my mum had been taking me doctor
after doctor for two and a half years before one could actually tell us why
it was I was in so much pain all the time.
Tamara:
Jeez! That must have been terrible! It's bad enough when you are in pain and
you know the reason why, but if you have no idea why you are, it must be ten
times worse! I guess you were pretty when you were diagnosed, but did you
play sport before you were diagnosed?
Jessica:
I love horse riding and my mum is a horse rider. Before I was diagnosed I
wasn't able to ride horses because it was just so painful whenver the horse
moved and falling off the horse was just a disaster. I was in a lot of pain
for many weeks due to the fact that I had fractures that were not known about
becuase I was not x-rayed. The fractures weren't easily recognised and so the pain was just
put down to just bruising or sore muscles.
Tamara:
Oh that is such a sad story. I think I know the answer to this question, but
how has treatment helped your lifestyle?
Jessica:
The change in my life since treatment is incredibly dramatic. I am now able
to walk, run, play sport and ride my pony "Pippa" without any pain
at all. I don't need my wheelchair anymore.
Tamara:
Yes that certainly is a dramatic change! Saying "goodbye" to your
wheelchair must have been extremely exciting! Do you play a particular sport
now?
Jessica:
I play all sports on offer at school now, although I'm not as free moving
or as flexible as the other kids at my school and I get teased a bit, but
I still try and enjoy most sports.
Tamara:
Well next time you get teased at school, let me know and I'll get my mate
Captain Capsicum on to those bullies! I guess other kids just don't understand
everything you've been through. I think you are very brave for ignoring them
and still having a go at evertything. Do you have any long term goals?
Jessica:
I would love to ride my horse at a higher level without breaking any bones
because that just hurts too much.
Tamara:
Well on behalf of all the F&V gang, I wish you the best of luck in achieving
these goals! I think you have now become MY favourite sporting hero, but who
is yours? And what is your favourite sporting moment ever?
Jessica:
Both of those questions are very easy to answer...The Thorpedo - Ian Thorpe
is my favourite sporting hero and my favourite sporting moment ever was at
the Sydney Olympic Games when Ian Thorpe and the rest of the team won the
gold in both of the freestyle relays and broke the world records too!!! I
also loved it when the Equestrian team won god and rode their Victory Laps
to the theme music from movie "The Man from Snowy River".
Tamara:
Yes Ian is a legend and the sporting moments you mention were great. Especially
when the Thorpedo brought the Aussies home in the 4 x 100m to JUST beat the
USA. Now getting on to one of my favourite topics...what are you favourite
fruits?
Jessica:
I love apples, bananas, oranges and tomatoes if they are not cooked.
Tamara:
Wow! You are one smart cookie! Most people think tomatoes are vegetables,
but you're on the ball! I feel very proud that one of your favourites are
what I am - a tomato!
I am sure Megabite and Oscar will be excited when they know that you love
apples and oranges too! So what are your favourite vegetables?
Jessica:
Mum gets me to eat as many vegetables as she can. She says broccoli is very
good for my bones but I don't like it very much. I like peas, potatoes, carrots,
corn and beans.
Tamara:
I love potatoes too. They are my favourite also. What is your favourite food
in general??
Jessica:
Hhmm. It's a hard choice, but I'd have to say KFC and Pizza.
Tamara:
I LOVE chicken too. Geez! We have very similar tastes! I know you're only
just into High School, but do you have an idea of a particular career you
are aspiring towards?
Jessica:
I hope I can be a vet or a reptile specialist. I sould love to work with reptiles
because I love snakes. I got a snake for my birhtday. It is a children's Python.
She is the most beautiful snake I've ever seen. I have called her "Precious".
Tamara:
Eeewww! Snakes. I don't like snakes at all, but I do think that "Precious"
is a great name for a snake. What's your favourite subject at school? Is it
Biology so that you can learn about animals and science?
Jessica:
No. My favourites are History and English.
Tamara:
You must like writing. What about your favourite movie?
Jessica:
Ace Ventura Pet Detective
1 & 2.
Tamara:
Ahhh! I should have guessed that animals would feature somewhere in your favourite
movie! Do you have any nicknames?
Jessica:
Schness.
Tamara:
Oh ok, as in Jess Schness! What do you think is the vest thin about playing
sport?
Jessica:
I love just being ABLE to play sport! But the best thing is being able to
get out there and get lots of exercise, fresh air and know that you are healthy
and strong, just like all of the other kids.
Tamara:
I think we probably take good health for granted a lot. So what is your favourite
motto?
Jessica:
At the moment, my favourite motto is OZZIE! OZZIE! OZZIE! OY!
OY! OY!!
Tamara:
Ahh, so you have been hit by the Olympic bug a bit huh? What about if you
are having a hard time at school or with your illness, what do you do to help
you cope?
Jessica:
I just try as hard as I can to ignore the pain and then cheer myself up by
playing or talking to my friends.
Tamara:
Friends are great when it comes to cheering yourself up aren't they? I know
I can always rely on Megabite, Summa, Oscar and Captain C to cheer me up if
I'm feeling a little down. Another good way is to get someone to tell you
a great joke. Do you know any good Fruit and Vegie jokes?
Jessica:
Yes. Why did the orange stop in the middle of the road? Because
it ran out of juice!! And I just made this one up: Why did the banana
go to College? Becuase it wanted to be an Unreal
Banana Peel.
Tamara:
Hee Hee Hee!! They
are both very funny! I'm very impressed with the one you made up! Maybe you
should consider being a comedian! Well thank you, Jess Schness, very much
for taking the time for this interview. I think that your story is an incredible
one of strength of character and determination. You are one special young
woman and I wish you the best of health and success in becoming a vet and
being able to ride in the Olympics so that someone is yelling out "OZZIE!
OZZIE! OZZIE! OY! OY! OY!!" for you! |
