Ziad Soltani and family grateful to community for helping save his life
VIDEO: Twelve-year-old Ziad Soltani’s brain tumour was growing so rapidly his surgeon said he would have been dead within 12 months. This is his thanks to the community for his life saving operation.
The Standard
Don't miss out on the headlines from The Standard. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THIS year, Ziad Soltani will start high school, get back into rugby league and live the life of a “normal” 12-year-old after his lifesaving surgery.
“I am tumour-free. I am lucky,” Ziad, now a picture of health, said with a smile when The Standard caught up with him this week.
“I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone from my community that donated for my life saving surgery.
“Now I’m tumour free, healthy and fit. and getting ready to go back into my footy
“I’m feeling good and happy that everything’s gone tumour free
“(I’ve) been focusing on football and going down to the skate park, having fun.
“My family has been very great and I think they feel relieved that their son and brother is not going to pass away and they can just focus on loving me now.
“(I’m) heaps thankful that they are my family because they’ve done a lot.”
It’s been a gruelling six months for the St Clair youngster, who was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in July.
His prognosis was paralysis in 12 months and death within five years.
But Ziad was given a fighting chance when the community raised $180,000 for his operation and recovery, after Krissy Stimpson and Mitchell Beggs-Mowczan started a Go Fund Me page for him.
Ziad was operated on by world-renowned neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo in late November, at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
“We thank Dr Teo every day that Ziad is still alive,” mum Trudie Timmins said.
“He told us, when we went back for the follow-up, at the rate the tumour was growing Ziad would have been gone within 12 months.”
An aspiring league player, Ziad said he knew how fortunate he was, getting a second chance, and felt for those who weren’t as lucky.
He has since donated some of the money to other ill children, and on Christmas Eve he delivered presents to The Children's Hospital at Westmead while dressed as an elf.
“It is more scary now looking back and seeing other people not getting what they need,” Ziad said.
Ziad, his mum, father Amin Soltani, brother Jordan, 15, and sister Makayla, 9, wanted to express their gratitude to the community for saving their boy’s life.
“Penrith, Mt Druitt and all these places have such a bad reputation but it goes to show it’s not where you come from, it’s how you are brought up, and we all have a heart,” Ms Timmins said.
“The way they rallied together to help a 12-year-old boy is incredible and humbling, something I am so proud to be a part of.”
Sister Makayla said she and Jordan were relieved when Ziad was given the all-clear, as he was “very special” to both of them.
“When me and Jordan are having a hard time he does funny things to makes us smile,” she said.
Friends, family, sporting clubs and the wider community dug deep into their pockets to save Ziad.
Young neighbours even came to the family’s door ahead of Ziad’s surgery, donating the gold coins they had for lunch money.
Ziad said he was thrilled he could focus on his future and go back to playing for the St Clair Comets Junior Rugby League Club, after last season was cut short.
Club president Mick Higgins said it was great to hear Ziad was better.
“If he can come back and play football that’s fantastic. His (teammates) will be ecstatic,” Mr Higgins said.
$355m loss: NSW worst pokie hotspots
This is where NSW pokie players have lost more than $355 million in four months. Search and check our interactive table to see if it’s where you live and how your suburb compares.
$330 more: ‘Ludicrous’ power bill hikes for 500,000 in NSW
An electricity retailer owned by the federal government has raised its NSW prices by a whopping 15 per cent. See if you’re affected and watch the video on how to get a better deal.