Dominic Cappello may need Boston Childrens Hospital visit for Hirschsprungs Disease
DOMINIC Cappello loves to play with trains, but the line running inside his chest tells you life is anything but easy for this little boy.
Northern District Times
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DOMINIC Cappello loves to play with trains, but the line running inside his chest tells you life is anything but easy for this little boy.
The 21-month-old Ermington toddler was born with a rare form of Hirschsprungs Disease.
The intestinal disorder is characterised by an absence of nerves, but Dominic has the most severe form.
He has no large bowel, and only a minor section of his small bowel.
This means he eats and drinks only tiny amounts, and is instead connected to a machine from 4.30pm to 7.30am to receive food and drink each day.
Dominic has had many surgeries and faces a difficult future.
His parents Michael and Lauren face a daily challenge.
“It’s trying to get him through the day without dehydrating or exhausting himself,” Mrs Cappello said.
On a good day, Dominic might have eight to 10 hours free from the machine.
However that period poses difficult questions.
“It’s giving him quality of life without tubes, but at the same time I’m thinking ‘he must be starving or thirsty’,” Mrs Cappello said.
“You wouldn’t normally leave a two-year-old without eating or drinking all day.”
Dominic’s situation cannot continue. The family has been told he needs a full bowel transplant.
That would come at considerable cost, so the family wants to see an expert in Melbourne to gauge whether and when a transplant should go ahead.
If a transplant is required, the family says they will need to take their son to the world’s leading gastro clinic, Boston Children’s Hospital.
They estimate they will need $5,000 to do so, and have only Michael, a mechanic, working.
The Cappellos are asking the community to help cover the costs for Dominic.
They have started a campaign on the fundraising website GoFundMe called ‘Help 4 Dom’.
Without that help, Dominic has a life expectancy of five to six years.
His parents are not about to give up.
“I’m his mum. I need to find answers for him. I’m not just going to manage him,” Mrs Cappello said.
“He has got a full life ahead of him if I can get this fixed.”