Cancer survivor Jaidal Saville finds joy when once there was little

‘We bought the Butterfly House because that makes people happy.’ The owners of the popular Coffs tourist attraction are coming out the other side after every parent’s nightmare. They share their remarkable journey.

Jaidal Saville from Bonville at a Camp Quality retreat.

When 60 pimped cars roll into Coffs Harbour on the weekend, no one will shed more tears of joy and thanks than Butterfly House owner Verne Dove whose son Jaidal fought off a brain tumour.

Ms Dove and Jaidal, now nine-years-old, have been through hell and back on a medical journey made all the easier by Camp Quality.

The organisation helps kids facing cancer, and one of its largest annual fundraisers - a road rally across NSW known as esCarpade, will climax when the vehicles arrive at the finish line at The Jetty at around 3pm on Saturday.

It will mean so much to Ms Dove and her husband Troy Saville, who live at Bonville, and now own the Butterfly House tourist attraction.

Their first born Jaidal was diagnosed with a brain tumour at age three - and spent two years in and out of hospital while also having chemotherapy.

Verne Dove and Troy Saville, from Bonville, are the owners of the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House. They are pictured here with their children Justis, Jaidal and Trinity.

The particular type of tumour he had, has a 95 per cent mortality prognosis, Ms Dove explained.

Determined to make the best of whatever would be, the couple seized any opportunity to bring some light into Jaidal’s life.

“He went to Disneyland and when we got back we bought the Butterfly House because that makes people happy,” Ms Dove said.

“At Camp Quality they say that laughter is the best medicine.

Jaidal Saville was in and out of hospital for two years.

“We did quite a few camps with them where you can forget all of your worries and meet people on the same journey - you can have a laugh with them and a cry together.”

She said Jaidal’s chemo treatment had been like the Covid-experience endured by all, as it goes hand-in-hand with distancing and wearing masks.

While her son’s brain tumour has gone - “touch wood” - Ms Dove said life isn’t quite back to normal.

“He’s developed epilepsy which has nearly killed him twice, and he has to have MRIs every six months,” she said.

“Camp Quality has had a huge impact on our lives. Firstly, they did a puppet show at my child’s preschool so that he still had friends, despite losing his hair.

Sixty wacky vehicles participating in the Camp Quality esCarpade will roll into Coffs Harbour for the finish line on Saturday, April 9.

“Because of esCarpade, Camp Quality can help more families like ours.”

Billed as Australia’s happiest and wackiest outback adventure, esCarpade is a 2300-kilometre trek around the state which aims to raise $1 million for kids facing cancer.

After being postponed the past two years, the convoy of 60 decorated cars and costumed drivers will assemble at Coffs on Saturday to join a Camp Quality Fun Day.

To learn more about Camp Quality visit campquality.org.au, and to donate to one of the esCarpade teams go here.