Community throws support behind seriously ill toddler
AN INGLEBURN family is asking the community to pray for their seriously sick toddler who is is suffering from a malignant and aggressive brain tumour.
Macarthur
Don't miss out on the headlines from Macarthur. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AN INGLEBURN family is asking the community to pray for their seriously sick toddler.
Nicky and Steve Gangemi are still coming to terms with the shocking diagnosis that their bright cheeky 16 month old daughter, Hayley, is suffering from a malignant and aggressive brain tumour.
The toddler was sent to Campbelltown Hospital as a precaution two weeks ago when she started vomiting after she fell and bumped her head at daycare.
However, the situation took a sinister turn after she was unable to be roused. A CT scan revealed brain swelling and a tumour.
Hayley was transferred to the Sydney Children’s Hospital and was heavily sedated, with a breathing tube and drains inserted to drain excess fluid and help with the swelling.
The next day she underwent lengthy surgery to remove part of the tumour. Doctors were unable to remove it completely. She then started to have seizures and was not waking up when expected.
Doctors also warned Nicky and Steve an MRI showed some serious damage to blood vessels and brain cells. They said the cells could possibly start to heal over the next few weeks, even months, but it is also possible the cells have died under the pressure.
These cells and vessels are the ones that allow Hayley to see, talk and wake up.
While Nicky, who is pregnant with her second child, and Steve have asked for prayers for Hayley, good friend Elizabeth Singh has started a fundraising page.
“To myself and many others, it only feels natural to offer something else, as well as our abundant and ongoing prayers. Something practical that will help Hayley have her parents by her side,” Ms Singh said.
“What would you want? Time with your baby. What would your baby want? Time with you. We can help give them time.
“Small amounts of money that you can spare could contribute to accommodation nearby the hospital, or tanks of petrol to the hospital to see their baby. It could contribute to take away or pre-prepared food so they don’t need to spend time shopping and cooking, when they could be with Hayley. It could help cover bills and the mortgage when they run out of sick leave but Hayley needs them with her, especially during surgeries and chemotherapy.
It is going to be a lengthy and hard road to recovery.”
Ms Singh’s GoFundMe page, Help for Hayley, has raised more than $9000 in just four days.
Details: gofundme.com/wrkrn-help-for-hayley