Lil Garys journey with Pancreatitis
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This is Gary Wanganeen jr. He is my 7 yr old son that suffers from Hereditary Chronic Pancreatitis.
Gary was diagnosed when he was 3 but has suffered since birth.
Chronic Pancreatitis is a rare disease that causes severe abdominal pain, depression due to being in daily pain, diabetes and can lead to Pancreatic Cancer.
Gary has been approved for a major operation that has never been done in Australia, A Total Pancreactomy Auto Islet Transplant.
This operation is huge, in the near future Gary will have his Pancreas removed at the WCH they will then send his pancreas over to Melbourne where they have a special lab that they can harvest as many Islet Cells as possible (insulin producing cells ) then they will then be sent back the next day for Gary to undergo a 2nd operation where the will transplant them into his liver, in hope that the cells will take and produce insulin from there.
Gary's little brother Toby also suffers from this hereditary disease and will also need this in the future. Their father Gary Snr had a Total Pancreactomy 2 years ago that has left him still suffering alot with pain , type 1 diabetic but took away the risk of pancreatic cancer.
There is no cure for this disease. The only treatment is pancreatic enzyme supplements, insulin to treat diabetes, analgesics and narcotics to control pain.
Through all this pain and suffering Gary remains a high spirited boy that would just like to eat and live normal.
Gary is crazy about sport and an amazing little football player.
Now let's all keep our fingers crossed that this little man will be able to play sports and live a fuller life!!
Thankyou for taking the time to read!
Gary was diagnosed when he was 3 but has suffered since birth.
Chronic Pancreatitis is a rare disease that causes severe abdominal pain, depression due to being in daily pain, diabetes and can lead to Pancreatic Cancer.
Gary has been approved for a major operation that has never been done in Australia, A Total Pancreactomy Auto Islet Transplant.
This operation is huge, in the near future Gary will have his Pancreas removed at the WCH they will then send his pancreas over to Melbourne where they have a special lab that they can harvest as many Islet Cells as possible (insulin producing cells ) then they will then be sent back the next day for Gary to undergo a 2nd operation where the will transplant them into his liver, in hope that the cells will take and produce insulin from there.
Gary's little brother Toby also suffers from this hereditary disease and will also need this in the future. Their father Gary Snr had a Total Pancreactomy 2 years ago that has left him still suffering alot with pain , type 1 diabetic but took away the risk of pancreatic cancer.
There is no cure for this disease. The only treatment is pancreatic enzyme supplements, insulin to treat diabetes, analgesics and narcotics to control pain.
Through all this pain and suffering Gary remains a high spirited boy that would just like to eat and live normal.
Gary is crazy about sport and an amazing little football player.
Now let's all keep our fingers crossed that this little man will be able to play sports and live a fuller life!!
Thankyou for taking the time to read!
Organizer
Chanel Brown
Organizer
Melbourne VIC
