A three-year-old girl with an inoperable brain tumour will travel with her family to Mexico in a last-ditch bid to save her life.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Potts family has been overwhelmed with support from the community, but the family continues to face mounting medical bills and travel costs to give Annabelle a chance at life.
Annabelle turned four on June 10 and just two days later she, with her parents Adam and Kathie and her little brother William, flew to the other side of the world in a bid for life-saving treatment.
The family’s lives were turned upside down late last year when they received the news Annabelle had been diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontene Glioma, a rare and aggressive brain tumour.
Annabelle underwent six weeks of daily radiation treatment at the Sydney Children’s Hospital after being told the tumor was inoperable by renowned surgeon Dr Charlie Teo.
It looked as though things may have turned around when Annabelle was accepted into a medical trial in the UK, for radiation treatment via Convection Enhanced Delivery, but the family’s hopes were dashed when further tests showed that because of the position of the tumour, Annabelle was no longer eligible for this treatment.
The family were then told of a medical trial that was being offered by a hospital in Mexico. Annabelle’s parents Kathie and Adam have made the tough decision to take Annabelle overseas for intra-arterial chemotherapy treatment combined with Immunotherapy.
“There are many children with DIPG having this treatment done with amazing results and shrinkage on their tumors,” Kathie said. “We are feeling very positive that this treatment will shrink Annabelle's brain tumour, if not completely get rid of it.”
“It is horrible to think about going overseas, and not having our family and wonderful friends close to help support us through this. But Adam and I are determined we will do whatever it takes to help Annabelle.”
This treatment costs around $24,000 each chemotherapy infusion. The family has been told by doctors that Annabelle will need treatment every three weeks for an undefined period of time.
A ‘GoFundme’ page has been set up to help raise money for the cost of the treatment for Annabelle at: https://www.gofundme.com/annabellepotts and it has raised nearly $170,000, but more will be needed.
“I wanted to say a huge thank you for all of the love and support we are receiving,” Kathie said. “It helps us get through each day, knowing there are so many wonderful people behind us, helping us to save our beautiful little girl.”