When disaster sets in for friends, family and even those we don’t know, it can be hard to know how to help.
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But for the Porters from Green Point, whose two year old boy Charley was diagnosed with leukaemia late last year, help is hopefully on its way.
“On September 26 we took our son to emergency as he had gone all weekend with sore legs and refused to bare any weight,” writes his mother Jess.
“Shortly after he was examined the doctors took bloods and we were told the devastating news that our precious little boy most likely had cancer... I remember whispering to myself (and almost three months later it still doesn’t feel real) how could this be?”
The family was rushed straight to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle where they found out he had leukaemia. He had surgery to have a portacath placed under his skin in his chest where he receives his chemotherapy, has bloods taken and is given any intravenous medicine.
“While he has responded really well to treatment... we still have three years of chemo treatments ahead of us.”
That challenge notwithstanding, the family has found itself in dire need of a trustworthy car to transport young Charley to and from his frequent health appointments in Newcastle.
“Living two hours from his treating hospital, and 45 minutes from our local hospital, our family is car is pushing 13 years old with almost 300kms on the clock with one thing after another going wrong with it,” said Jess.
“The worry that we have about more things going wrong with it is just so stressful. The appointments he has are not ones that can just be rescheduled . He has to be there. He’s also at high risk of infection which can mean rushed trips to Taree.”
“Knowing we have three more years of heavy travelling and no means of upgrading to something more reliable is a horrible, horrible feeling.”
So following friends’ suggestions, they are trying crowdfunding to reach their goal of acquiring a newer, safer, more reliable, fuel efficient car to help get them through.
“We don’t like having to ask for help but given our current situation we feel there isn’t another option.”
Anyone wishing to help can go to www.gofundme.com/351b780
