![\"Eleanor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/f92cc4fff0caa66229b1e2ab8b98bee1f527e478123562f800730a72af1cfce0.png\")
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August 23, 2026 \u2014 11:58am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n For Mel Schneider and her kids, it is difficult to do spontaneous things such as a movie night or a family holiday \u2013 things most families don\u2019t even have to think about.<\/p>\n The Melbourne mother of four, whose 15-year-old son, Wil, has defied the odds to survive several rare illnesses from birth, said even the decision to go for a last-minute drive required careful planning.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything is around where he [Wil] is coping or whether he\u2019s handling it,\u201d Schneider said.<\/p>\n \u201cTaking the kids on a holiday where there are no restrictions on what they do and just letting them have fun \u2013 having them be able to experience that normalcy of life \u2013 is what I enjoy seeing the most.\u201d<\/p>\n The 40-year-old shared her family\u2019s story while on stage at Very Special Kids\u2019 22nd annual Footy Finals Fever lunch in Melbourne\u2019s CBD this month.<\/p>\n The Victorian non-profit provides palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions, and support for their families.<\/p>\n The charity event was packed with more than 500 attendees, including AFL legends Chris Judd, Dyson Heppell and Brent Harvey, and veteran Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe.<\/p>\n Schneider recalled \u201cone of the darkest moments\u201d of her life: the day she underwent an emergency caesarean after a routine ultrasound showed signs of Wil\u2019s heart going into failure.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember it like it was yesterday. A whole team of doctors sat in a circle, defeated. They told us that we were out of options. It was time to palliate him, make him comfortable, and let him go,\u201d she told the crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the first time I\u2019d heard about Very Special Kids \u2014 and little did I know that they were going to become a huge part of our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n Wil was born at 31 weeks and diagnosed with leukemia, chronic lung disease, epilepsy, developmental delay, and a rare genetic disorder called CBL syndrome.<\/p>\n By 10 months old, he weighed four kilograms \u2013 only slightly bigger than a newborn.<\/p>\n After spending two years in intensive care, Wil overcame his illnesses and grew into what Schneider describes as a loud, \u201ccheeky\u201d and determined young man who adores the Richmond Tigers.<\/p>\n Shortly after her speech, Schneider found herself back on stage.<\/p>\n Wil, wearing his Tigers guernsey, sat beside her as the event\u2019s MCs, David Schwarz and David King, drew raffle prizes.<\/p>\n After the first prize was drawn \u2013 a $10,000 all-inclusive trip to a luxury resort in Bali \u2013 the winner was announced as Howe. However, the 36-year-old had already left early to pick up his kids from school.<\/p>\n The charity\u2019s chief executive, Michael Wasley, stepped aside to make a quick phone call. Moments later, he returned to the microphone and announced that Howe had gifted the prize to Schneider and Wil.<\/p>\n \u201cI was like, wait, what?\u201d Schneider remembers of the day. \u201cI cried in front of everybody. I didn\u2019t expect it, it was just very overwhelming.\u201d<\/p>\n While Howe chose not to comment, a Collingwood spokesperson confirmed the story was correct.<\/p>\n Schneider is thinking of taking the Bali holiday with her kids sometime early next year. She wants to make the trip a big family affair, with her parents, brother, and nieces planning to come along.<\/p>\n The Beaconsfield-based business owner has three other children: daughter Aubrey, 17, and 12-year-twins, Leo and Elle.<\/p>\n Elle died when she was 13 days old due to hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious birth defect where the left side of the heart is too small and cannot pump blood properly to the body.<\/p>\n Schneider credits Very Special Kids and support worker Anna for helping the entire family navigate their grief through emergency respite, counselling, and organised activities.<\/p>\n A Very Special Kids spokesperson said demand for paediatric palliative care services in Victoria was growing fast.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the first half of 2026 alone, we have already supported more children and their families at end of life than we did during the entirety of last year,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n Editor’s pick<\/p>\n The event at which Schneider spoke raised $450,000, making it the most successful finals lunch to date.<\/p>\n And in a household full of devoted Richmond supporters, Schneider admits it will be hard not to call herself a lifelong Collingwood fan from now on.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Mel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f0557df6226004a7296a6fb74f04f36b81cbcc10.jpeg\")
Mel Schneider and two of her children, Leo, 12, and Wil, 15.Eddie Jim<\/p>\n![\"Collingwood](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2e8a123f5446968aada8a357df6d919a90a613e0.jpeg\")
Collingwood player Jeremy Howe.AFL Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n