Annabelle Potts has returned home to Australia with her family, after spending three months in Mexico receiving medical treatment for her inoperable brain tumour.
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The four-year-old was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontene Glioma (DIPG) on December 30, 2016. Her parents, Adam and Kathie, were told that they should take their little girl home and enjoy the time they would have left with her, which they estimated to be nine months.
Kathie recently posted this message on her ‘Love for Annabelle’ Facebook page:
“NINE MONTHS, that is how long we were told we would have with our daughter. September is childhood cancer awareness month and it also marks the NINE MONTHS we were told we would have with Annabelle. NINE MONTHS marks the time the doctors in Australia said we would have to 'make memories' while we wait for Annabelle to die from brain cancer.
Annabelle is doing well. She is able to walk, talk and play. She is able to eat, drink, swallow and breathe on her own. People tell me I am lucky and for a moment I feel lucky.
Then I realise, 'lucky' is having children who aren't sick or who don't have cancer. Lucky is living in a country where the doctors will offer a treatment for your sick child. Lucky is living in a country where the government values your child and provides adequate funding into finding a cure or a treatment for the number one killer of children. Lucky is knowing that you will get to see your child grow up”
Adam and Kathie were not prepared to give up and researched medical trials and treatments all over the world before deciding on a treatment in Mexico, which appeared to be having some success. The treatments consist of an Intra-arterial treatment and Immunotherapy. The family have recently received some good news as the tumour appears to be shrinking.
The treatment is very expensive, costing around $23,000 per treatment, and family and friends of the Potts family are fundraising to help pay for Annabelle’s treatment, which she needs every six weeks.
Annabelle’s aunt, Annalise Potts, from Harden, has taken fundraising to a new level, cutting her waist-length hair by 35cm and donating the hair to be made into wigs for cancer sufferers. She has also, with the help of Ros and Glenn Stewart, from the Hard Rock Gym, run a successful Table Tennis Tournament.
On Sunday, Annalise was able to present her brother Adam with nearly $3500, which included a $1000. cheque from the Lions Club in Young. Adam was blown away by the generosity shown by the residents of Harden in donating this money toward his little girl’s treatment.
“I can’t thank the people of Harden enough for the money they have raised to help save Annabelle’s life.” Adam said.”It helps Kathie and I to know that there are people wanting to help us and support us, it means so much.”
Adam and Annabelle will travel back to Mexico in October for Annabelle’s next treatment. You can follow her story on the ‘Love for Annabelle’ Facebook page.
