Ned’s brave battle shows it’s time to gain perspective

It’s important to remember that there are more important things in life than cheating in a game of cricket — ask little Ned Isham, who is fighting to stay alive.

Ned Isham, 5, with hat, and dad Seth, sisters, Lucy 9, and Eleanor, 2, brother Gilbert and mum Emily. Picture: Jason Edwards

EASTER is one of those times of year when families like to get together to share good company, hot cross buns and far too much chocolate.

No doubt the conversation will turn to the Australian cricket team and the debacle which has emerged over the past week since the ball-tampering scandal.

What a sad state of affairs. There are no winners. Angry fans have felt betrayed, cricket careers have been destroyed and broken young men have dissolved into tears as they’ve faced the consequences of their actions.

As moving and regrettable as the events have been, it’s important to remember that there are more important things in life than cheating in a game of cricket.

Out-going Australian cricket coach Darren Lehmann summed it up when asked about his proudest moment at the helm of the team. He didn’t bring up win-loss records, World Cup titles or Ashes wins. Without hesitation, he was adamant in his response: “The way we dealt with Phillip Hughes was my proudest moment as coach. We’re only playing a game, that’s all. We lost a great young man.’’

That’s the stuff that really matters.

Just ask the Isham family from Kingston.

Emily and Seth Isham know the value of life.

Their five-year-old son Ned has been fighting acute lymphoblastic leukaemia since he was aged two. They have watched as their son has struggled to overcome the endless hours of treatment, constant fatigue and emotional turmoil.

MORE: MUM’S HEARTBREAKING ACCOUNT OF SON’S BATTLE

The Ishams have put careers on hold and uprooted their family and moved to Melbourne so that Ned could have a bone-marrow transplant using donor marrow from his little sister.

During the week the family received the devastating news that Ned’s bone marrow transplant had failed and Ned’s hope now rests in a world-leading clinical trial ... in Seattle. Thousands of kilometres and hundreds of thousands of dollars away in the United States.

The tight-knit family now face the prospect of heading off to the other side of the world by early May. They need to raise $680,000 between now and then. So far many Tasmanians have opened their hearts, and wallets, to help the Ishams in their quest to save their child.

And what of the brave little boy at the centre of it all? He’s praying. Praying his leukaemia will get better and praying that he won’t die. And amid his pain and sickness he is also praying for the parents of his little friends in the oncology wards who have lost the battle he so bravely fights today.

MORE: LITTLE NED PRAYS FOR HAPPY ENDING

Not everyone believes in prayer but in remembering others less fortunate than himself, Ned sets a powerful example. It puts a lot of our own worries into perspective.

Tasmanians can be proud of this little man. And if you have a spare dollar to give this Easter, consider donating it to help Ned get to Seattle.

Go to www.gofundme.com/get-Ned-to-Seattle