Our slogan in Jeunesse is “One Team, One Family, One Jeunesse” and right now one of our family members, Melissa Williamson is doing it tough and needs all the love and support we can give her and her family.

Meet Tahlia, Melissa’s 8 year old, happy, playful and loving daughter.

On January 26 of this year, Melissa took her daughter Tahlia to the Sunshine Hospital as she was feeling unwell. Melissa was expecting to be told that Tahlia had a virus and would be sent home, however much to her surprise she was admitted into hospital, continued to deteriate and had Doctors baffled as to the cause.

After extensive testing Melissa was told that Tahlia had a bone infection in her leg, so the treatment and medication began. Days later and Tahlia was still not responding to treatment, still on the decline rapidly and only one other bacterial antibiotic left to try.

Tahlia continued to detoriorate and after many requests from Melissa was transferred to the Royal Children's Hospital where she would be admitted into the intensive care unit and have emergency surgery. Tahlia was septic, with a nasty staphylococcus infection spreading rapidly.

Having already gone through multiple operations so far she now also faces many more in the future as her growth plate has been affected and some of these surgeries are only offered overseas. Tahlia's current diagnosis is Osteomylitis (please see link for more info)

Melissa & Aaron have 5 children (inc Tahlia) with very limited, local family support. During this challenging time Melissa has had to sacrifice everything to be by Tahlia’s side as she requires constant help and are both in and out of hospital. Melissa’s partner Aaron had also been unwell prior to this occurring and required a hospital stay, so having taken time off work for his own sickness and now having to stay home and care for the other 4 children, he has now been told he there is no work for him.

So, no job, no income for either parent.

Tahlia currently has a central PICC line inserted to give her medication to lower complications and for extensive ongoing need for Introvenous medication. She also requires a nurse to check in daily/weekly to maintain this medication for her.

Tahlia is unable to return to school due to the risk of infection and at this stage they are unsure how long Tahlia will need the medication through the PICC before she can go on oral antibiotics, which she will be on for many months to come.

Sadly they don't have all the answers for why this has happened and once the infection heals they will need to conduct bone marrow testing to get furthers answers, leaving the family facing a waiting game for her actual diagnosis, cause and what the future will hold.

We all know times are tough at the best of times, even when two working adults are supporting kids, groceries, essentials, school fees etc however imagine the impact of all this concern on top of the stress of managing another 4 children and their requirements. Add to that Tahlia’s medication at more than $200 a week, wheelchair hire, shower and toileting aids, ongoing fuel for the many trips in and out of the Children’s Hospital, and the general stress of it all when there is no income and no ability to support your family and work during this time.

Tahlia has remained in good spirit as she certainly inherited her mums cheery and bright outlook on life but it certainly has its days and takes its toll on everybody. Tahlia won’t let doctors touch or medicate her unless her mother is around, so there is severe emotional anxiety and support she requires.

As friends watching this, we have felt powerless to help and want to do more for Melissa and her family. We have provided meals for the family but we wanted to do more.

What can you do to help?

You can help make this journey a little easier for the family by generously donating a small amount to help them with the ongoing medication and medical expenses, helping to ease some of the financial stress. Remember whether its $5, $10, $50, $100, it all helps and goes along way to easing the stress and strain this family is under. Please donate, knowing you are making a difference in this family’s life and share around. The more support we can give them, the easier the financial burden and stress will make life just a little better for them in these challenging months ahead.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/osteomyelitis