THE family of a four-year-old Bathurst boy have been given just four days to raise $80,000 for the youngster to undergo potentially life-saving surgery.
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Just three weeks ago Braiden Peters-Whitwell was a typical, healthy boy but, following a brief illness, he has now been delivered a devastating blow.
His parents, Megan Whitwell and Shaun Peters, have been told Braiden has a brain tumour and, without radiation treatment, he may only have weeks to live. Even with radiation treatment the prognosis is bleak. Surgeons give Braiden just six to nine months. However, after being rushed to The Children’s Hospital Westmead last week, Braiden has been given the slimmest chance of hope. But it comes at a cost.
His family has to raise $80,000 by Monday for renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo to operate on the little boy, and even then there are no guarantees. The family said Dr Teo told them he thinks there are two different tumours and surgery is Braiden’s only hope.
However, the family has also been made aware of the risks. Braiden may not survive the operation or could end up in a vegetative state.
The $80,000 the family needs covers the cost of the operation, anaesthetist and specialist surgical team – and time is already against them.
A Go Fund Me site has been set up by Braiden’s great aunt, Jenny Wonnocott, to garner community support and so far almost $6000 has been raised.
Because of the nature of Braiden’s tumour his condition will continue to deteriorate.
While he is still a happy, boisterous little boy, dysphasia has set in, so he is now having trouble eating and drinking. This will only worsen as time goes on. His headaches are more frequent and his balance is also affected, meaning he can’t walk without falling over.
It was these symptoms which originally raised alarm bells with his parents.
Shaun Peters, Braiden’s father, said they noticed something wasn’t right with their son and took him to Bathurst Base Hospital.
“He couldn’t swallow his drink or his food without choking, and when he was walking he’d fall over,” Mr Peters said.
He said initially blood tests came back normal, but doctors wanted a scan on his brain, and he was transferred to The Children’s Hospital where the family received the devastating news.
“He has a tumour the size of a mandarin at the base of his neck,” Mr Peters said.
The tumour has been identified as a Diffuse Intrinsic Glioma, or DIPG for short.
Mr Peters said the diagnosis had left the young family gobsmacked.
“We thought he might have had an infection, we just can’t believe it,” he said.
Mr Peters thanked everyone who has made a donation to the Go Fund Me campaign, saying their support was keeping them going, and they hadn’t given up hope they will be able to raise the money for the operation by Monday.
Anyone wanting to make a donation to help Braiden can do so by going to www.gofundme.com and searching for “Braiden’s Rare Cancer Fund”.
