Helping support the Cook Family
We are the family of Greg Cook.
Greg is a 15 year old boy living with Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD). I’m Val, his Aunty and twin sister to his mum, Lyndal.
We are raising funds to financially assist his family who are accompanying Greg in hospital - 6 hours away from home.
The Cooks live in Dubbo, central west NSW where the hospital facilities are not capable of the specialised care Greg requires.
BMD is a genetic muscle wasting disease which effects up to 6 in 100,000 boys. Due to previous diagnosis within the family and the hereditary nature of the disease, Greg was screened as an infant and was diagnosed at only 6 weeks old.
Recently, Greg was diagnosed with a potentially life threatening condition as a result of BMD. This condition was affecting the largest and most important muscle in the body, his heart. He was flown via emergency helicopter from Dubbo to Sydney in the early hours of Friday 19th February.
Due to heart failure, Greg has sustained significant irreparable damage to his heart. He is awaiting a treatment plan, depending on how he responds to medications. It could be months before any decisions can be made due to his ill health.
As his home and family are located in Dubbo, where his 2 younger siblings are attending school, Greg’s dad Paul, will basically be a single dad, working full time whilst also caring for the younger kids (who both have other significant health challenges as well).
Greg’s mum Lyndal will need to close her business, at least for the foreseeable future and is now living in dorm-style accommodation in the carers’ wing of the hospital. The family have been put on a waiting list for Ronald McDonald House so the 2 younger kids can come and spend some time with mum. However due to current covid restrictions they will be unable to visit their brother until restrictions lift or he is out of the intensive care unit (ICU).
Lyndal, being unable to work during this time, along with the additional costs of a family member being in hospital, will create a significant financial burden on the family.
Any contribution even small would mean this family could focus more on the recovery of their eldest child and less on stressing about money problems.
Thank you for taking the time to read this story.
Please click below to donate directly to the family.
If you would like to know more about BMD or donate to finding a cure for this horrid disease you can donate to MD Australia
https://www.mda.org.au/
If you would like to help support other families suffering with NeuroMuscular Conditions such as Becker’s you can donate to MD NSW
https://mdnsw.org.au/
Please share the word and help raise the profile of neuromuscular conditions
