For Mel Schneider and her kids, it is difficult to do spontaneous things such as a movie night or a family holiday – things most families don’t even have to think about.
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.
“Everything is around where he [Wil] is coping or whether he’s handling it,” Schneider said.
“Taking the kids on a holiday where there are no restrictions on what they do and just letting them have fun – having them be able to experience that normalcy of life – is what I enjoy seeing the most.”
The 40-year-old shared her family’s story while on stage at Very Special Kids’ 22nd annual Footy Finals Fever lunch in Melbourne’s CBD this month.
The Victorian non-profit provides palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions, and support for their families.
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.
Schneider recalled “one of the darkest moments” of her life: the day she underwent an emergency caesarean after a routine ultrasound showed signs of Wil’s heart going into failure.
“I 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,” she told the crowd.
“That was the first time I’d heard about Very Special Kids — and little did I know that they were going to become a huge part of our lives.”
Wil was born at 31 weeks and diagnosed with leukemia, chronic lung disease, epilepsy, developmental delay, and a rare genetic disorder called CBL syndrome.
By 10 months old, he weighed four kilograms – only slightly bigger than a newborn.
After spending two years in intensive care, Wil overcame his illnesses and grew into what Schneider describes as a loud, “cheeky” and determined young man who adores the Richmond Tigers.
Shortly after her speech, Schneider found herself back on stage.
Wil, wearing his Tigers guernsey, sat beside her as the event’s MCs, David Schwarz and David King, drew raffle prizes.
After the first prize was drawn – a $10,000 all-inclusive trip to a luxury resort in Bali – the winner was announced as Howe. However, the 36-year-old had already left early to pick up his kids from school.
The charity’s 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.
“I was like, wait, what?” Schneider remembers of the day. “I cried in front of everybody. I didn’t expect it, it was just very overwhelming.”
While Howe chose not to comment, a Collingwood spokesperson confirmed the story was correct.
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.
The Beaconsfield-based business owner has three other children: daughter Aubrey, 17, and 12-year-twins, Leo and Elle.
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.
Schneider credits Very Special Kids and support worker Anna for helping the entire family navigate their grief through emergency respite, counselling, and organised activities.
A Very Special Kids spokesperson said demand for paediatric palliative care services in Victoria was growing fast.
“In 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,” they said.
The event at which Schneider spoke raised $450,000, making it the most successful finals lunch to date.
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.
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