Events

There will be a Family Fun Day at Kinross Woolshed to help raise funds for the family of Asher Hayne. Asher's story is below.

The Day will include Rides, Jumping Castle, Facepainting, Sticky Tattoo's, Dancing, Live Music, BBQ's, Fairy Floss, Slushies, Raffles and heaps more.

Danny Phegan and the Longreach Band have also donated their time and will play from 12pm.

Make sure you are here to support this great cause.

Here is Asher's story so far:

Asher is a 15 month old baby boy. He is a little brother to two older sisters Scarlett (7yrs) and Lyla (5yrs). After 9 days of early morning vomiting and two visits to see a doctor Asher was taken to the Albury emergency room. A CT scan was taken of Ashers brain and showed a tumor on the bottom part of his brain. He was flown that evening to the Royal children’s hospital in Melbourne and had an MRI which showed a tumour the size of an orange.

Asher had surgery that night to insert an internal drain to relieve the fluid build up in his brain. On Sunday 4^th September Asher underwent a 12 ½ hour operation to remove the tumor. The neurosurgeon who performed Ashers surgery was Alison Wray who was part of the team that separated the conjoined twins Trishna and Krishna.

Asher was then to spend the next two days in the Intensive care unit (ICU). A post operative MRI showed the surgery was a success and that the tumour had been successfully removed and that a biopsy had been taken and the results would take 3-5 days. Asher’s parents Amy and Ian waited anxiously for the results and 4 days later received the devastating news that Asher’s tumor was a Medulloblastoma tumour which is a highly malignant primary brain tumor that originates in the cerebellum or posterior fossa  (a type of cancer). If this wasn’t devastating enough the best treatment for this cancer is a combination of both chemotherapy and radiation therapy but, as Asher is only 15 months old his brain would be severely damaged by the radiation therapy and so Asher must undergo 6 cycles of very intense chemotherapy which will take between 6-8 months. Due to his young age and the risk of him getting sick he must remain in Melbourne the entire time of his treatment.

At present Amy and Ian are both staying at Ronald McDonald house and alternating nights to stay with Asher in Melbourne. Amys parents live in Albury and are caring for Ashers two sisters in Albury to keep their routines and lives as ‘normal’ as they can.  As the chemotherapy begins and takes its toll on Asher’s health Amy and Ian will alternate taking turns over longer periods of time meaning one parent will stay with Asher in Melbourne and one will stay in Albury with their other two children. It is Amy & Ians wish to keep the girls with their friends and school that they love. With both parents spending their time with Asher in Melbourne they are not able to work as normal which will affect the familys income.

Asher has now started his second round of chemotherapy. He becomes quite ill with the chemotherapy and his hair has begun to fall out and mouth ulcers starting to develop in his mouth.

There is a food roster being set up at West Albury Preschool and St Annes primary school to help out the family with meals. If you wish to put your name on the list to help out please contact Rachel Alexander on 0419 030 065.  Many people in our community are arranging fundraising, which is greatly appreciated by the Hayne family in this challenging time.