Help Vaughan recover from brain surgery
Donation protected
This fundraiser is to support the extraordinary Vaughan's recovery from brain surgery. At the age of 32 Vaughan was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's is a degenerative neurological disease and Vaughan needs this surgery to reduce the debilitating symptoms he experiences.
How Parkinson's is making Vaughan's life very bloody hard right now
Vaughan shows up to life in the most extraordinary way, but I've witnessed the disease eroding his quality of life. Daily activities like shopping for groceries, household chores, caring for his young children and running his landscaping business are becoming increasingly difficult.
Often unable to walk freely, Vaughan suffers from tremors and rigidity, insomnia, and has problems with memory and anxiety. Not surprisingly, he's always tired. When I asked him to summarise how the disease is affecting him the list was pretty exhaustive, but 'missing time with family and friends' was the kicker.
Three hourly medication helps, but as the disease progresses the 'window' in which he can function with minimised symptoms is getting shorter, and the side-effects of the medication are becoming harder to handle.
Why surgery?
Because Vaughan's symptoms can't be adequately controlled by medication anymore his neurological A-team recommended deep brain stimulation surgery. He's considered a prime candidate for the surgery due to the length of time he's had Parkinsons, his age, and because of the way his symptoms are rapidly progressing.
What the surgery will achieve
The procedure will treat the movement-related symptoms such as the tremors, stiffness and slowed movement.
Most people experience significant reduction of their symptoms and are able to reduce medication intake. The reduction in medication will mean a decrease in side-effects such as dyskinesia (involuntary movements of the arms, legs and head), which is something that really effects Vaughan and is super exhausting and frustrating for him.
In Vaughan's words, the surgery will help him 'obtain a full life again so I can be an active father to my children, keep riding my bike, and keep working.'
How you can help
The surgery will occur within the next 2-3 months and this doesn't allow time for financial preparation. He needs help with the 8-12 week post-operative recovery when, among other things, he won't be able to work or drive a car. Vaughan is self-employed and doesn't benefit from sick-leave or paid holidays.
Money raised from this page will go directly towards his daily expenses while he recovers, including: rent, bills, food for himself and his kids, school expenses and ongoing medical expenses.
Knowing these expenses are covered would be a huge weight off his shoulders and would mean he can keep his focus where it's needed most: on his health and his family.
As if you didn't need more of a reason to donate
Vaughan has personally raised over $20,000 for Parkinson's research in Australia. In 2017 he co-founded Pedal for Parkinson's and rode from Melbourne to Sydney! I don't doubt that post-surgery he'll be back out on his bike drumming up even more cash for the cause. In the meantime he could really use a hand himself, and anyone who knows Vaughan will know how incredibly grateful he'd be for the help.
Feel free to share the link widely to help get the word out. Thank you!
How Parkinson's is making Vaughan's life very bloody hard right now
Vaughan shows up to life in the most extraordinary way, but I've witnessed the disease eroding his quality of life. Daily activities like shopping for groceries, household chores, caring for his young children and running his landscaping business are becoming increasingly difficult.
Often unable to walk freely, Vaughan suffers from tremors and rigidity, insomnia, and has problems with memory and anxiety. Not surprisingly, he's always tired. When I asked him to summarise how the disease is affecting him the list was pretty exhaustive, but 'missing time with family and friends' was the kicker.
Three hourly medication helps, but as the disease progresses the 'window' in which he can function with minimised symptoms is getting shorter, and the side-effects of the medication are becoming harder to handle.
Why surgery?
Because Vaughan's symptoms can't be adequately controlled by medication anymore his neurological A-team recommended deep brain stimulation surgery. He's considered a prime candidate for the surgery due to the length of time he's had Parkinsons, his age, and because of the way his symptoms are rapidly progressing.
What the surgery will achieve
The procedure will treat the movement-related symptoms such as the tremors, stiffness and slowed movement.
Most people experience significant reduction of their symptoms and are able to reduce medication intake. The reduction in medication will mean a decrease in side-effects such as dyskinesia (involuntary movements of the arms, legs and head), which is something that really effects Vaughan and is super exhausting and frustrating for him.
In Vaughan's words, the surgery will help him 'obtain a full life again so I can be an active father to my children, keep riding my bike, and keep working.'
How you can help
The surgery will occur within the next 2-3 months and this doesn't allow time for financial preparation. He needs help with the 8-12 week post-operative recovery when, among other things, he won't be able to work or drive a car. Vaughan is self-employed and doesn't benefit from sick-leave or paid holidays.
Money raised from this page will go directly towards his daily expenses while he recovers, including: rent, bills, food for himself and his kids, school expenses and ongoing medical expenses.
Knowing these expenses are covered would be a huge weight off his shoulders and would mean he can keep his focus where it's needed most: on his health and his family.
As if you didn't need more of a reason to donate
Vaughan has personally raised over $20,000 for Parkinson's research in Australia. In 2017 he co-founded Pedal for Parkinson's and rode from Melbourne to Sydney! I don't doubt that post-surgery he'll be back out on his bike drumming up even more cash for the cause. In the meantime he could really use a hand himself, and anyone who knows Vaughan will know how incredibly grateful he'd be for the help.
Feel free to share the link widely to help get the word out. Thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Rosie Howell
Organizer
Brunswick, VIC
Stuart Holding
Beneficiary