Logan dad running 72km to fundraise for sick baby girl

Little Harriett Fisher was only four months old when the Logan littlie was diagnosed with a debilitating, rare disease. Her dad is now preparing to run a daunting 72km to raise awareness.

Harriett Fisher has been battling a rare, debilitating illness.

Little Harriett Fisher was only four months old when she was diagnosed with a debilitating, rare disease, Multi-System Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

The plucky Logan baby has battled complications affecting bones in her shoulder, ribs, spine, liver, eye socket and also the skin on her scalp.

It has been a battle as well for her parents David and Lindsey

In response, Logan dad David Fisher, 32, has committed to a charity fundraiser on April ‘24 where he plans to run from the Gold Coast University Hospital to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane to raise community awareness.

The illness causes specialist cells to lose their ability to fight infection and instead group together to destroy healthy tissue, causing tumour-like lesions that attack the bones, skin, or other body systems.

Her father David said they first noticed Harriett struggled to lift her left arm.

After numerous tests they were finally told the bad news.

Harriett Fisher in hospital.

“When we got the diagnosis it really rocked our world and we felt like half of her life was stolen from us,” he said.

“Nobody is ever prepared to look after a sick baby and though we were shocked initially we made a point of being as positive as possible and we had to be strong for her.

“It’s not like cancer in that she’ll never receive the all clear.

“The gene will always be there, meaning she’ll have to be monitored through her life.

“But, fingers crossed, there will be no relapse.’’

Mr Fisher said Harriett’s treatment included chemotherapy and steroids.

“Now we want to get back to a normal life for a baby and get out walking, go to daycare and for her to be healthy,’’ he said.

“She lost her hair during chemo and we got stupidly excited when it started growing back.

“Harriett has defied the odds by continuing to reach her milestones and is now crawling.”

The pint-sized battler will have a special treat this year away from hospital at a country property outside Brisbane.

Mr Fisher said he might dress up as Santa, drink a little too much eggnog and even kiss his wife Lindsey under the mistletoe as the family put the year from hell behind them.

Harriett Fisher lost her hair due to chemotherapy.

Ms Fisher has not been able to work since the diagnosis.

The couple has moved back in with Ms Fisher’s parents in Logan to be closer to the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Despite all those challenges, Mr Fisher was now determined to take on another daunting trial — running 73km to raise awareness of the illness and money for research into it.

“It is roughly equal to about a marathon and a half (plus a bit),” he said.

“Harriet’s journey started in the Gold Coast and hopefully will finish up in Brisbane once her treatment finally ends.

“My goal is to raise $10,000, split between Redkite a childhood cancer support charity and Fiona Elsey Cancer Research, whose study is directed toward understanding the basic biology of histiocytic diseases.

“I have been touch with local businesses and sporting clubs already raising $11,000 and I am trying to double that.”

For more information visit GoFundMe.