Hi everyone,

I'm fundraising for my Dad, David, who is currently facing an incredibly tough battle with a rare form of jaw cancer.

Dave is 65 and has always been the first to lend a hand—whether it’s fixing something, building something, or just offering support. Dad spent most of his life as a truck driver and crane operator. He loves all things cars and trucks, but about 4 years ago dad decided he wanted a change and he transitioned to a role as a hospital porter at Sale Hospital—a job he truly loves, especially for the chance to connect with patients and staff every day.

In March this year, while on a caravan holiday down the Great Ocean Road, Dad noticed what he thought was a gum abscess or ulcer causing some pain. But when he returned home and went to the dentist, they discovered a piece of his jawbone was missing on the X-ray. Within just a few weeks, he was sent for a biopsy and quickly referred to specialists in Melbourne, where he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the jaw.

Things moved quickly, and a few weeks later Dad underwent major surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne (three hours from home). The surgery, originally expected to take 8 hours, lasted nearly 14 due to the extent of the cancer's spread, including into his cheek. He had to have almost his entire lower right jawbone removed and replaced with a metal rod, part of his cheek excised, and lymph nodes in his neck removed. He also required a skin graft from his thigh to rebuild his gum.

Due to the potential for airway swelling, Dad had to have a tracheostomy tube inserted during surgery, which remained in place for most of his hospital stay to help him breathe. He also needed a nasogastric tube, as he wasn’t allowed to eat for over two weeks and had to receive all of his nutrition through the tube. All dad was hanging for was a cup of tea!

During the lengthy surgery, both his lower lobes of his lungs collapsed, and in the days that followed he developed pneumonia and needed IV antibiotics. The graft site didn’t heal properly, leading to two additional surgeries to close the wound and apply another graft.

After a grueling 3.5-week hospital stay, Dad finally came home on the 10th of May (and finally got to have his long awaited cup of tea!). He will have a short break at home before returning to Melbourne on the 19th of May for at least six weeks of daily radiation treatment in Melbourne.

Because the surgery or treatment isn't available locally, he and Mum need to stay in a hotel close to the hospital the entire time. Even with a government subsidy, the out-of-pocket cost for accommodation alone is over $4,000 (and this is for a hotel that is already discounted for St Vincents patients!) And with his sick leave and annual leave nearly used up, the loss of income which will be tens of thousands of dollars is going to hit pretty hard and they will start to struggle to cover normal expenses like rent, bills, food, etc, on top of treatment expenses.

To make matters worse, Mum and Dad have also been told they need to vacate their rental property early next year, as the owners are selling. This added stress of needing to find a new place to live—on top of managing Dad’s treatment—has been a lot to say the least. Dad is the sole provider in the household, as Mum has retired and is unable to return to work.

We’re asking for your help to ease some of this financial burden so Dad can focus on healing and getting better. Donations will go directly toward:

Accommodation during radiation treatment, food expenses while in Melbourne, Lost income and everyday living costs helping to cover rent and bills, Out-of-pocket medical and treatment-related expenses like the many specialist appointments he has already had and will continue to need!

Dad has an appointment with the oncologist is Melbourne tomorrow, and we will find out more details about the treatment and whether they also think that chemotherapy may be needed, I'll update everyone once we know!

Dad is the kind of person who never asks for anything, but would give everything to help someone else. He’s the hardest worker I know, and now he needs others to help him out. If you can donate, share this campaign, or even leave a message of support—it would mean the world to us.