Queensland holiday pushes Eric Bicchieri through cancer battle

A gentle giant, Eric Bicchieri has autism and a learning disability and is now fighting an aggressive form of leukaemia. The happy Glenroy man is dreaming of a family trip as he battles chemotherapy and a fundraiser has been set up to help him get there.

Eric Bicchieri with his mother Sharon Leslie in hospital.

As he sits with his mother during chemotherapy each day, Eric Bicchieri is dreaming of a Queensland holiday.

The 25-year-old has severe autism and a mental disability and has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Mr Bicchieri’s mother Sharon Leslie has taken leave from work without pay to sit with her son each day, as he fights a disease he doesn’t understand.

Ms Leslie, of Meadow Heights, said she only returned home once a day to shower, before she headed back to hospital.

“It’s a very serious and aggressive leukaemia … it’s usually only people over the age of 60 who are diagnosed with it,” she said.

Mr Bicchieri is a fan of Charlie Brown and Disney movies.

“He has no idea that he has cancer or that he is having chemotherapy, he just thinks he’s in hospital for a stomach problem.”

Each time he is injected with a needle, the gentle giant is reminded of his biggest wish. “We’ve promised him that if he’s well we will take him on a holiday to Queensland,” Ms Leslie said.

“Every time he needs an injection, we talk about the holiday and that gets him through.

“It’s like living in a dream, I wish we could wake up and this wouldn’t have happened.”

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Mr Bicchieri is so well-loved in the Glenroy supported accommodation where he lives and at the Carinya Society day service in Coburg, that the staff organised a fundraiser to help with medical expenses and to fund the trip to Queensland.

Carinya instructor Nes Sedef said the staff “simply adore him and want to do something to make life a little easier for the both of them”.