The family of a 13-year-old Perth boy who was diagnosed with brain cancer have been forced to sell their possessions to fund overseas treatment.
Konah Brown has a life-threatening tumour and after multiple surgeries must now travel to America for a last chance treatment, Nine News reports.
But while the government will pay $180,000 for the three-month proton therapy, his parent’s are struggling to cover the costs of flights, accommodation and expenses.
The family of a 13-year-old Perth boy Konah Brown (pictured), who was diagnosed with brain cancer, have been forced to sell their possessions to fund special overseas treatment
The family of eight have sold their car to help fund the trip, but are scrambling to pull together enough money for Konah and his dad to fly out by this month’s deadline.
‘I think I am still holding my breath, pretty much. Because we don’t know what is going to happen,’ Konah’s mother Shirlee Gelding said.
Konah was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a fist last October after visiting a dentist Dr Richard Brown.
He had previously been complaining of intense headaches and a sore neck, but was told by several doctors and a chiropractor that the pain likely stemmed from ‘too much video games’.
The family of eight, including mum Shirley Gelding (pictured), have sold their car to help fund the trip, but are scrambling to pull together enough money for flights, accommodation and expenses
Konah was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a fist (pictured) last October after his dentist Dr Richard Brown discovered he had a tongue abnormality
After the dentist discovered a tongue abnormality the boy was taken to hospital to have a scan, which returned a diagnosis of ‘Clivical Chordoma’.
‘We were told that if they didn’t get to it ASAP that Konah would be dead within the month,’ Shirley wrote.
He has since undergone two surgeries, including one that lasted 12 hours and had just a 20 per cent chance of survival.
Despite getting stronger following the surgeries, the tumour could not be removed in its entirety due to its placement in his brain.
Before they found the tumour, Konah (pictured) had been told by several doctors and a chiropractor that his neck pain and headaches likely stemmed from ‘too much video games’
The family have set up a Go Fund Me page to help Konah undergo the special radiation therapy in Florida, America.
‘We don’t know if it will help Konah but it is our best chance of keeping our son alive,’ they wrote on the page.
The family are hoping to raise $30,000, with more than than $8,100 currently pledged.
He has since undergone two surgeries, including one that lasted 12 hours and had just a 20 per cent chance of survival
Konah’s famil have set up a Go Fund Me page to help get him and his dad to the special radiation therapy in Florida, America