Four year old Ava’s tragic brain cancer diagnosis
Donation protected
In October 2019 Vanessa and LeeVan’s beautiful 4 year old daughter Ava was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) - a rare, inoperable form of cancer on her brain stem. This tragic news came out of nowhere after a few days of feeling a little unwell.
Devastatingly this form of cancer has a zero percent chance of survival.
Due to the size and location of the tumour surgery is not an option and the doctors have said that Ava may only have 6 months of reasonable health before the tumour progresses again. Doctors are also unsure of what her condition will be if the tumour grows back quicker than anticipated.
Ava underwent radiation for 30 days under general anaesthetic each day at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne in order to reduce the tumour’s effects as much as possible to allow her to have the best possible 6 months with her family.
There are no words to describe what the family are going through at the moment. Their whole world has been turned upside down and they are facing the unknown on when Ava’s condition might deteriorate and how that might occur.
Up until now Ava was like any other perfectly happy and healthy 4 year old- ready to start her very first day of school next year.
They organised a camper trailer after Ava’s diagnosis and have just embarked on a road trip with Ava and their daughter Amelie who is 3 to try and create some special memories as a family.
Both Vanessa and LeeVan are in the Royal Australian Air Force and have both served Australia overseas. They have both taken a break from work to spend this time as a family.
The bills continue to come in and we would like to help give them a break financially so they can just focus on giving Ava the best experience over the next few months of uncertainty.
Any of you who know Vanessa and LeeVan would also agree that these are two of the kindest and most humble people and they are always the first to put their hands up to help out anyone else.
If you can spare anything to give this beautiful little girl the best experience for the next few months with her family, any donation would be incredibly appreciated.
If you can’t afford to donate but want to help please share this page to anyone you can and please read about DIPG through the link below to learn more about this horrific children’s cancer.
https://ccia.org.au/blog/dipg-shining-a-light-on-the-deadliest-childhood-cancer/
No child and their family should ever be faced with this terrible nightmare.
Devastatingly this form of cancer has a zero percent chance of survival.
Due to the size and location of the tumour surgery is not an option and the doctors have said that Ava may only have 6 months of reasonable health before the tumour progresses again. Doctors are also unsure of what her condition will be if the tumour grows back quicker than anticipated.
Ava underwent radiation for 30 days under general anaesthetic each day at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne in order to reduce the tumour’s effects as much as possible to allow her to have the best possible 6 months with her family.
There are no words to describe what the family are going through at the moment. Their whole world has been turned upside down and they are facing the unknown on when Ava’s condition might deteriorate and how that might occur.
Up until now Ava was like any other perfectly happy and healthy 4 year old- ready to start her very first day of school next year.
They organised a camper trailer after Ava’s diagnosis and have just embarked on a road trip with Ava and their daughter Amelie who is 3 to try and create some special memories as a family.
Both Vanessa and LeeVan are in the Royal Australian Air Force and have both served Australia overseas. They have both taken a break from work to spend this time as a family.
The bills continue to come in and we would like to help give them a break financially so they can just focus on giving Ava the best experience over the next few months of uncertainty.
Any of you who know Vanessa and LeeVan would also agree that these are two of the kindest and most humble people and they are always the first to put their hands up to help out anyone else.
If you can spare anything to give this beautiful little girl the best experience for the next few months with her family, any donation would be incredibly appreciated.
If you can’t afford to donate but want to help please share this page to anyone you can and please read about DIPG through the link below to learn more about this horrific children’s cancer.
https://ccia.org.au/blog/dipg-shining-a-light-on-the-deadliest-childhood-cancer/
No child and their family should ever be faced with this terrible nightmare.
Organizer and beneficiary
Lucy Taylor
Organizer
Arana Hills, QLD
Vanessa Antalan
Beneficiary