Timothy O'Brien

My son has been diagnosed with an arachnoid cyst on his brain, a condition that requires specialist neurological assessment and monitoring. After medical complications and financial hardship, we are trying to raise enough to safely return home to Australia, where he can receive proper care. My name is Timothy. I’m an Australian citizen currently living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with my 2-year-old son. My son has been diagnosed with an arachnoid cyst on his brain. This is a fluid-filled cyst that forms between the brain and surrounding membranes and can place pressure on the brain as a child grows. Because of this, it requires specialist neurological assessment and ongoing monitoring. Specialist assessment and treatment for this condition are extremely limited in Cambodia, while Australia can provide appropriate care through the public health system. I also suffer from serious atrial fibrillation (AFib). During an attempted foot procedure in Cambodia, I went into cardiac arrest twice. I now require minor heart surgery before doctors can safely repair my foot, which was broken six months ago and still requires plates and screws. At the moment, I am unable to walk properly and risk permanent disability. These health issues have made it extremely difficult for me to work. Because of the seriousness of both our situations, his Australian citizenship was granted urgently within two weeks, and his passport was issued by the Australian Embassy within four hours so that he could legally return to Australia. We had organised flights to return home, but recently we were forced to cancel them because we simply ran out of money while trying to cover food, rent, and visa costs here. It was an incredibly difficult decision, but we had to protect what little funds we had left for basic survival. Right now, we are trying to stabilise our situation and raise enough money to safely return to Australia. I am also doing everything I can to find work and rebuild some income while we are here, including offering online and in-person coaching as a boxing and bodybuilding coach with over 25 years of experience. The total amount we are trying to raise is approximately $3,000 USD, which would cover: • $1,200 USD for plane tickets to return to Australia • $1,800 USD for temporary accommodation, food, taxis, and basic essentials until we can re-establish ourselves once we arrive home. Medical documentation for both my condition and my son’s diagnosis is available privately upon request. If you are able to help, even a small contribution or simply sharing this story could help us get home and ensure our son receives the medical care he needs. Any contribution, no matter how small, helps move us closer to medical safety and stability for our family. Thank you sincerely for taking the time to read our story and for any support or kindness you can offer.