Our Kids fundraising coordinator Rebekka Battista is finally back home in Lismore after her big journey of donating a kidney to her son, Isaak.

“I’m back at work today,” Rebekka told The Lismore App. “A lot has happened in the last seven weeks. 

“My operation scar is looking pretty neat – the surgeon did a good job and he was pleased that I was pleased.

“I underestimated how big the operation was – I would go out and do stuff and need to sleep a lot the next day. On Saturday, I tried to get back in to my routine and I went and did the park run and had to a walk and run – but it will be fine.

“Isaak is doing well too – the results are fantastic. He goes to hospital twice a week for monitoring and now he has energy to burn. He’s still in Sydney at Hillsong Bible College in Waterloo."

Rebekka and her family while in hospital in Sydney.

Rebekka said while in Sydney recovering after the operation, she and Isaak “did all the tourist things”.

“We went to Manly for Isaak’s birthday and walked around Centrepoint – things you don’t have time to do before that because you are sitting around the hospital.”

Rebekka said she surprised her husband, Gianpiero by arriving home a day early.

“He was expecting me home last Friday and I surprised him on Thursday – it’s good to be home,” she said.

“This year I need to hit the ground running with organising the Our Kids Samson Challenge on March 6 and 7.

Rebekka at the Lismore Cup race day.

“It’s our major fundraiser for and registrations are now open. People have been registering since December and they close mid-February.

“People will come from Brisbane and Sydney for it – it’s a massive community event. 

The Samson Challenge is an obstacle course where teams compete in a timed event. Participants need to complete eight different legs and they need to work together to complete the course.

“There’s swimming, running, pushing, pulling, and getting over a three metre wall - all in the name of charity,” Rebekka said. 

“The first team finished is the Samson winner. We also have Samson solo for individuals on the Friday night, as well as team sprints."

To register, visit http://www.lismoresamson.com