Mason Wade GoFundMe raises thousands to support family during heartbreaking diagnosis

The generosity of strangers brought Mason Wade’s parents to tears after their little boy went from being bubbly and energetic one day to receiving a devastating diagnosis.

A GoFundMe campaign to help the family of a little boy with a “heartbreaking” brain damage diagnosis has raised thousands of dollars in its first week.

Mason Wade, 5, was diagnosed with brain damage following a lengthy process involving three hospitals.

Mason was taken to Gympie Hospital with a suspected viral infection, before being transferred to Sunshine Coast University Hospital, where doctors classed his illness as an “unknown disease”.

He was transferred to the Queensland Children’s Hospital paediatric intensive care unit where an MRI recently revealed serious brain inflammation which had caused brain damage.

In just over a week, a campaign to help the family has garnered intense community support, raising more than $6360.

Family friend Belinda Scott created the GoFundMe page to help ease the financial pressure.

“It would be hard on any parent to have to see their usual happy, bubbly and energetic little five-year-old go from their normal usual self one day, to very sick and being taken to hospital the next, instinctively knowing something isn’t quite right,” she said.

“I hope we can take one less stress and worry away for them, and let them be able to focus on Mason’s recovery.”

Phil, Tara and Indi Wade, 9, pictured with Mason, 5, at the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

More than 60 people have donated, with many leaving words of support for the Wade family.

“Mighty Mason. You are so strong and always in our thoughts,” one donor said.

“I pray for a great outcome for Mason. It must be so hard for you. Don’t forget to take care of yourselves,” another said.

Mason’s mother Tara Wade said the process to get a diagnosis was harrowing.

“We kept getting told, ‘it may be this, it may be that’,” she said.

“It has been very taxing emotionally, physically and mentally … you just want answers.”

Mason Wade shows off his cheerful grin despite everything he is going through.

Phil and Tara Wade’s daughter Indiana is being cared for by her grandparents in Gympie, while her parents are staying at Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane.

Tara said the Wade family had been touched by the kind donations, especially from so many people who did not know them personally.

“When I first saw the (GoFundMe), we both cried,” she said, referring to herself and Phil.

“From the bottom of our hearts, it means a lot.

“That a community who doesn’t know you can get behind it – it means a lot. It takes a lot of the burden off us in a very hard time.”

You can support Mason and his family here.