09/10/2019
Today we need to ask for your help.
This a photo of our 13 year old son Brock (left) and his best friend Johey. Last Christmas Johey was diagnosed with an incredibly rare childhood cancer known as DSRCT. Telling Brock that his best friend has cancer was a heartbreaking moment in our lives that we will never forget. Brock was quite simply devastated...we all were.
Since then Johey has endured months of aggressive chemo treatment and anti-cancer drugs, with all the attendant side effects. He has only managed to attend school less than a dozen times over the year. Brock has missed Johey deeply and at times has been overwhelmed by grief for his friend’s suffering.
However, Johey has now reached a turning point in his treatment, he is ready for surgery. This is a miracle in itself as there were times when they were not sure Johey would get there. No one survives this cancer without surgery.
Because his cancer is so rare his best hope is to go to the U.S.A. where the leading and pretty much only, expert in this cancer, has agreed to perform the up to 20 hour surgery. This Doctor believes the surgery will be successful. But it will cost them $225,000 AU...
His mum Emma, is a local high school science teacher and his dad Scott, works in the mines. They are a hard working family who have long since used up all their holiday leave, sick days and long service leave handling this crisis and supporting Johey, while raising his younger sister, Issy.
Emma initially left her job to care for Johey but has since had to return to work part time to help out financially, juggling her work with Scott’s shift work, Johey’s numerous appointments and care and looking after Issy.
After 10 months of hardship on every level, they have thrown their remaining financial resources at the surgery and along with support from their local friends, colleagues, charities and communities are getting closer to raising the full amount.
But they need more help and they are running out of time...
They have a go fund me page set up and this is where we are asking for your help.
Any donations will help. We would love to see our greater Maitland, Hunter Valley and Newcastle communities get behind this local family and support them at this critical point.
Please donate if you can. The link for the go fund me page is:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/johey039s-battle-for-a-cure-dsrct?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
