‘Don’t want her to not live’: Girl’s harrowing plea to save sister’s life

A young girl has made a tearful plea to save her dying sister’s life as the three-year-old receives palliative care.

A young girl has made a heartbreaking plea to save her dying sister’s life in a harrowing video shared on social media.

Koa Gibson, three, from Geelong, Victoria, has been living with a rare brain disorder known as Lissencephaly, chronic lung disease, cerebral palsy and epilepsy, among other conditions.

The toddler, who is dependent on life support oxygen, also suffers from daily seizures and went through puberty at two years old prompting a growth spurt.

Koa’s mother, Aleisha Gibson, told the Geelong Advertiser changes were being made to her terminally ill daughter’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan, which would see 24-hour nursing replaced with high-intensity support workers.

Mrs Gibson also claimed the family would lose access to their wheelchair-accessible car.

Koa Gibson suffers from Lissencephaly, chronic lung disease, cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Picture: 7News

Mrs Gibson detailed the claimed changes to Koa’s plan in a post on social media on Thursday, where she shared a video of Koa’s sister’s heartbreaking reaction.

“I don’t want her to not live,” the young girl says through tears.

“Can Koa even survive without all this help?”

In the post, Ms Gibson wrote she had just received “a painful message”.

“NDIS have taken Koa’s nursing supports. They have taken away the wheelchair accessible car. They have taken away music therapy!” she wrote.

“She is a human. My child. My baby. NDIS you have failed a sweet innocent girl.”

Koa’s older sister made a desperate plea to save her sister’s life. Picture: Facebook

“I don’t want her to not live,” she said through tears. Picture: Facebook

An NDIA spokesman told news.com.au Koa’s NDIS funding has “never been reduced”.

“In addition, this week the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has significantly increased her funding,” they said.

“The NDIA has provided funding for Koa to receive disability-related supports including high intensity support workers, disability-related health equipment, therapy, assistive technology (such as a wheelchair and commode) and continence products.”

It’s understood 24/7 nursing support and wheelchair accessible car hire was not approved as part of Koa’s plan and vehicle modifications for the family are currently being looked it.

According to the Geelong Advertiser, evidence received by the NDIA from health professionals indicated Koa did not require 24-hour care, while a letter from the Royal Children’s Hospital recommended support workers.

However, a letter from Koa’s local nursing team seen by the Geelong Advertiser stated: “Koa requires a very high level of care 24 hours a day including overnight”.

Mrs Gibson shared a heartbreaking video of her daughters on social media. Picture: 7News

A GoFundMe has been set up to support the family and raise funds for a wheelchair accessible car among other medical costs.

“Caring for Koa is a 24/7 job as she needs around the clock medication and care, leaving Aleisha and Ben to cope with immense sleep deprivation as well as the emotional stress of their load,” the GoFundMe reads.

“It is our hope that we can raise enough funds to give the Gibsons the opportunity to buy their own wheelchair accessible car, so that Koa can experience the world the way that other healthy children do.”

“Our big dream for the Gibsons is to be able to have a holiday as a family, a feat that has been near impossible to achieve to date. In addition to this the Gibsons medical bills are absolutely huge, including the electricity bills required to run her medical equipment 24 hours a day. This equipment is quite literally keeping Koa here with us.”

Over $14,000 has been raised at the time of publication.