Community rallies to support family of young mum fighting for life

Amy Duthie should be at home holding her four young children. Instead, she’s spent the past two weeks clinging to life in an induced coma as her heartbroken husband wonders if she’ll make it home to them.

THE heartbreaking plight of Brisbane mother-of-four Amy Duthie, who has spent the past two weeks clinging to life from an induced coma, has seen more than $50,000 pour in for her young family of six.

The 26-year-old Redlands mum to Will, 5, Poppy, 4, George, 2, and Ziggy, eight months, was rushed to hospital two weeks ago and quickly placed in an induced coma as doctors rallied to treat a rare brain condition called acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

The family’s gut-wrenching story has triggered a barrage of supporters to donate to a fundraising campaign for the healthcare worker’s young family.

More than $50,000 has been raised for husband Matt to help with burgeoning costs including rent and household bills.

Redlands mum Amy Duthie, pictured here with husband Matt, is fighting for her life as she battles a rare brain condition.

Matt has previously spoken of his heartbreaking plight and how he’s “trying to stay strong for the kids”.

“It’s very hard,” he told 7 News.

“When you love someone and they’re your be all and end all … (you feel) completely lost.

“It’s like you’re in a desert somewhere and lost just looking for your other half.

“I hear her voice everyday.”

Matt had spoken of the moment doctors told him Amy may not walk out of hospital the way she walked in and that there was a high chance she might not survive.

“It was like someone put a knife through my heart … I thought ‘I can’t lose her’,” he said.

“How (am I) supposed to tell four kids that their mum’s not going to be there anymore? How am I supposed to raise four kids knowing that the greatest person they’ve ever known is not going to be around.”

The family’s plight has seen donations pour in from more than 600 people around the world.

Amy and Matt Duthie's young children Will, 5, Ziggy, eight months, George, 2, and Poppy, 4.

But the incredible fundraiser would never have come to fruition had it not been for a beautiful gesture by Redlands real estate agent Darren Cole.

Mr Cole learnt of Mrs Duthie’s battle when her mother Kim commented on his touching Facebook tribute to a friend who died when she tragically struck her head when tripping down the stairs.

“The 31-year-old girl had the rest of her life,” Mr Cole said.

He said he could see from Mrs Duthie’s mother’s comment “she was in distress”.

After reaching out to the heartbroken woman, Mr Cole created the fundraising campaign and sent it to his professional network.

The money started pouring in from across the world.

“A person I met in Israel randomly donated $500,” he said.

He said Mrs Duthie’s children “miss their mum” and that friends and family had wrapped around them to provide support.

Mrs Duthie’s colleague, nurse Jessica-Lee Holloway, has launched a Tupperware fundraiser to boost donations.

“I can’t even begin to imagine what this family is going through and with Mother’s Day just gone it really hit me hard,” Ms Holloway, also a Tupperware consultant, said.

“I have been trying to think of ways to help the family in some way and giving a bigger donation is not something I could do (so) I thought (a Tupperware fundraiser) could be another way to raise some money.”

She said all proceeds from the sale of Tupperware through her fundraiser would go to the Duthie family’s existing Go Fund Me campaign.

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“So far its going well but more is better,” Ms Holloway said.

“I’m a mum too so it just hit a soft spot trying to imagine what they must be going through.”

Shop for Tupperware for the fundraiser by going to the Sew Good By Jess Facebook page or contribute directly to Go Fund Me campaign Amy Duthie – Young Redlands Family in Need.