A Smile Is The Best Medicine!

Aussie parents Erin and Jeremy Ray have it tougher than most, but are inspired every day by their brave children

- Brigid Auchettl

With her young son battling cancer and his newborn brother in hospital having a life-saving operation, Erin Ray admits she almost lost faith and crumbled, but her sons’ incredible strength – and big smiles – kept her strong.

“It’s hard to be upset when they smile at you,” says the mum from Dubbo in the NSW Central West.

“Though I might be feeling down, I still dance and be silly with my children. They’re the ones really saving me.”

Her family’s life was turned upside down five months ago, when six-year-old Mitchell was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma after doctors found a large tumour in his stomach – just four days before Erin was due to give birth to her third child.