Marsfield family welcomes Zero Childhood Cancer Minderoo Foundation partnership
Marsfield mum Vivian Rosati’s son is a walking “miracle” and now she is overjoyed other children will have a chance to survive cancer like her only child did when he overcame an aggressive brain tumour.
Northern District Times
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Marsfield mum Vivian Rosati’s son is a walking “miracle” and now she is overjoyed other children will have a chance to survive cancer like her only child did when he overcame an aggressive brain tumour.
North Ryde’s Holy Spirit Primary School student Jack Burai, 11, was diagnosed with the tumour two years ago when he nearly lost his sight and ability to walk.
He was enrolled in a trial with the lifesaving Zero Childhood Cancer program, which recently received a $5 million boost from the Minderoo Foundation, founded by Australian philanthropists Andrew and Nicola Forrest.
The foundation’s Eliminate Cancer program will drive more research into medicine in childhood cancer.
“It’s a big breakthrough,’’ Ms Rosati said.
“It’s very close to our heart. Not only did they (Zero) help Jack have a chance, it’s going to help a lot of other kids in the future have a chance.”
The Zero program genetically tested sports-loving Jack’s cancer and detected a BRAF V600E mutation doctors believed to be driving the aggressive growth of his cancer.
The team identified new therapies to kill his tumours.
Within 45 days Jack was out of a wheelchair and playing tennis.
“Our prayers were answered because initially when we heard about the trial I thought ‘this is great research’ but I never imagined it was going to save Jack’s life,’’ Ms Rosati said. “It was an absolute miracle.”
Ms Rosati said her “strong, healthy boy” was prone to memory loss and sensitive light but never imagined an MRI in 2017 would detect a brain tumour.
And multiple tumours had spread to his spine before the life-saving treament.
The single mum put her job as a Qantas flight attendant on hold for 12 months but said her faith pulled her through the ordeal of her son’s illness.
She said she was grateful for the Forrests’ donation and for meeting them at the Children’s Cancer Institute, Kensington, this month.
“We were quite overwhelmed and he such a charismatic person,’’ she said.
“It’s like an angel came into the room.”