Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, over the last day or so, we've been contacted
by a number of listeners really keen to support a
local family who've discovered that they're then six sixteen month
old son has a tumor and well after countless surgeries,
they're hoping to access treatment in the United States, but
it is going to be an incredibly costly experience or
(00:22):
exercise to try and get that support for their little one.
Now joining me on the line to tell me more
about his son's battle is his father, Dennis yev Danovich.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Good morning to your DJ.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Good morning, are you Ye're not bad?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Mate?
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Talk me through little Kiali's journey so far.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah, so it was just a little bit before Christmas
and myself and my family we went to play Shack
and Parmestan, just have a bit of a family family
morning and take the kid just for a bit of
a play and we are Kiali. We were playing in
the baby area whilst the two older kids was playing
in the bigger kids area and Calli was just running around.
(01:06):
Everything was pretty normal, and yeah, he just had a
bit of an episode where he just lost his balance
and coordination and unable to walk, and we thought he
just made a bit a bit tired, and so we
picked him up and just nursed him for a little
while and he then I started to sweat really badly.
So we were a bit concerned about like his behavior
(01:28):
and what was going on and one thing that's another,
and we took him to the Parmestan Regional Hospital, being
the closest hospital, where they then transferred us across the
ARDH for some tests and stuff like that. They basically
just we were told that it was potentially a seizure.
Then it happens regularly with young young children Kali's age,
(01:50):
and this seizure actually caused Kelli to have a bit
of a kink in his neck, and for about two
or three weeks post we were a bit unsure about
the king, what caused the king in the neck, So
we did a few more follow ups and a few
more appointments and stuff like that, and that we met
this really nice pediatrician at the Royal Dane Hospital who
(02:11):
pretty much issued an emergency MRI for us. And two
days later after that appointment, we went to this m
RI and yeah, Cai had his m RI and that
showed that he had a brain tumor in the lower
part of his brain, called the cerebellum, which was quite
devastating to Zoe and I that leaning on from that,
(02:36):
we kind of got rushed across the Queensland Children's Hospital
where we you know, a couple of weeks of what
week of planning, surgery planning and stuff like that, where
they basically informed us that the tumor where it kind
of developed and stuff like that, it started to wrap
around his brain stem and then started to drop into
his spinal cord, which is what they believe is causing
(02:58):
which caused the kink in the neck along with it
wrapping around the brainstem and compressing on a lot of
vital nerves and stuff like that. Yeah, so it was
just a fortunate enough event that it kind of happened
in front of us, so we were able to tell
the tell the medical staff and stuff like that what
kind of went on and stuff, and one thing led
(03:19):
to another and we actually caught it relatively early for
what it is, and they say that a lot of
these pandemomas, well these tumors don't really get diagnosed until
children are about four or five. So as bad as
the episode was, you know, in the situation, you know,
we were fortunate enough that he's shown shown us a
(03:41):
bit of a symptom to make us a bit more
persistent in terms of, you know, pushing.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
For absolutely absolutely DJ tell me how old is little Kiali?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Now he's eighteen months?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Oh so he's still only a little fella made.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
How's he you know, how's he been going with some
you know, with the treatment that he's been having to
get through, and how is that prognosis at this point?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yeah, So, the the surgery went really well despite the
cumul location. We were kind of informed that it was
a it was a pretty bad area. You know, it
wasn't there wasn't really good. There was no good outcomes
to what we were hearing. But you know, based on
what they can see on m R is a lot
(04:33):
different to when they actually go in for the operation.
So fortunate enough for us. You know, we were told
the surgery was only going to go for about four
or five hours. That surgery pushed out to about a
nine hour operation during the time of operation because Ohie
and I were just you know, we weren't too sure
of what to expect, you know, when we got told,
you know, four or five hours and it pushes out
(04:55):
to eight hours and pushes out to the nine hour mark,
and we weren't sure to think if it was a
good thing or a bad thing, And.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
You must have been beside yourselves.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Oh yeah, it was. There was I can definitely say
there was moments there where we were just walking around
the hospital very mindless. Felt like a bit of a zombie. Yeah,
just not just very uncertain, you know, you know what
what the future looked like. And I think the best
thing was we took our older kids with us to
be together with the family during it, and that kind
(05:26):
of kept us both preoccupied. I guess you could say.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yeah, absolutely, you know, you're looking after after your other
two children and it does keep you.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
You're busy.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
So how is Kiale going at this at this point
in time.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
He's doing great. He's loving being back back home. We're
back in do now, so you know, he's back around
his home surroundings and you know, just around his toys
and stuff. He's full of life, and he's always full
of life before before the operation. So you know, it's
good to see him come back to to some kind
of normality. We're not too sure you know that how
(06:05):
he's going to how you know the proton therapy is
going to play out in terms of how his behavior
and stuff's going to be during PUS you know, different
surroundings and stuff like that. But I think you know,
doing it together as a family or kind of keep
him in a very positive, positive mindset. You know, he
looks up to his looks up to his big brother
and sister.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
So and so DJ Essentially, now, Kali does still need
to need to have some further surgeries and you are
hoping or you're hoping to access treatment in the United States.
Can you talk us through what that treatment is and
and what's really needed.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, So, so that he's only had the he's had
the one surgery in Queensland Children's Hospital which was actually
quite successful. They managed to remove a gross total of
the tumor. They called it a gross total resection, which
which basically up post scans now from the surgery state
that he's got about a three millimeter tumor remaining, which
(07:07):
is sufficient enough for us to have this proton therapy
offered to us. So there's actually like a criteria you
have to meet to have this proton therapy offered to you,
which is really fortunate for us to be able to
go down this line. Obviously. The only downside to this is,
you know, the cost is very extensive. There is Commonwealth
(07:30):
funding available for this treatment as it's outside of Australia.
We don't have a proton therapy clinic in Australia at
the moment. We believe that there's one going online by
the end of next year twenty twenty five. However we don't.
We don't have that kind of time to wait.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Well, you want to do absolutely everything you can to
your little fella to make sure that he's going to
be okay. You and Zoe want to do, you know,
like you want to do what any parent would do,
and that is to get them over there and get
that treatment.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
We've come home basically from Brisbane and you know we've
sold whatever assets we had just to try and get
funds together. It was only that we had a few people,
just a few really close friends of ours, saying like, look,
you know, the community is a great place and you know,
why don't you just try your luck with a GoFundMe.
You know, like, you know, people really reach out and
dig deep for you know, for something like this, and
(08:27):
you know you had to put you know, hard for
Zoe and I, but you know, just had to put
the pride aside and you know, just reach out for
that help and and yeah, it's yeah, it's been amazing,
Like the last few days since I posted the gofund me,
the amount of support and people reaching out small businesses,
it's been incredible, Like, yeah, I was not expecting this
(08:47):
kind of you know turnaround and turn out, you know
like that. Yeah, just it's crazy the amount of people
that have reached out to us over the past three days.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
And mate, I'm not surprised because, you know, you seem
like a lovely block. You seem like you've got a
beautiful little family and to be in this situation through
you know, no fault of your own in any way,
shape or form. For your little fella to be battling
this at eighteen months of age is such a tough
(09:17):
situation for you guys to be And I assume that
you've had to put your lives on hold as well
your jobs on hold last year and towards the beginning
of this year as this diagnosis was you know, was
was delivered to you.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Yeah, definitely, And that's basically what it's been. I'm actually
supposed to start an apprenticeship this year with Power and Water,
but you know I had I've had to put that
on hold, and likely Power Water you know, they you know,
they've been very supportive of the whole situation as well.
And yeah, no, it's it's what you do though, when
you know when he comes first at the end of
(09:52):
the day, and you know, and you know his health
is you know, my priority at the moment, and if
we can get him over there to get the treatment
stuff like that. Like I said, like we've had a
lot of people reach out. You know, other families that
have also been over to this Florida in particular for
this treatment as well, have all had really good success
stories and we just hope we can fit into that
(10:15):
same category and you know, come back with another positive
success story.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And let's make it happen. We've got to make it happen.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
How much money at the moment you go fund me
pages sitting at ninety eight, five hundred and forty five dollars,
but you've still got a long way to go.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
How much do you need to.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Get to the proton therapy alans one hundred and sixty
three thousand US, which obviously when you when you transfer
that across to Australian. Yeah, I think it works out
to be well over the two hudred and fifty thousand
dollars Australian. So that's just that aspect. You know, the
treatment goes for about forty four days and they only
(10:54):
do it Monday to Friday, so you know, potentially we're
looking at being over there for three months, will you know,
And like I said, we really want to try and
keep our family together, you know, to travel over there.
That them times just cover the proton therapy that's not included,
the flights to travel over there, the accommodation whilst we're there.
(11:15):
You know, I've reached out to Ronald McDonald house because
they know they put us up in Brisbane when we're there.
So we're just waiting to hear back from them as
well and just try and gauge you know, what kind
of assistance we can get or you know, you know
coming people go through every day.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
That's right mate.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
What about in terms of you mentioned before that there
is some Commonwealth government assistance that could be available. Do
you have any idea how much that would be?
Speaker 3 (11:44):
So the common Wealth assistance pretty much covers the proton
therapy and the and one parent to travel across to
with with Kali. They so Kali six weeks post off
now they tend to or we've been told that they
like to. They would like to. They really want to
get him across to the USA before twelve weeks post
(12:07):
post Obviously, it just puts his chances a bit higher
and stuff like that in terms of how effective of
the radiation and stuff is. But sorry, I've had a
bit of a mind.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Yeah, tell us how is little Kiali doing at the moment,
And how's your little family unuch going at the moment,
because you know, like I can't imagine how tough it's
been for you and Zoe and and you know for
the kids.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, he's doing really well considering you know, like there
was a few little issues post surgery where you know,
he suffered a facial paralyzed paraization and a voice box paralyzation.
So he's got a bit of a staggy cheek, his
eli doesn't doesn't close anymore, and he really struggles to
swallow fluids and stuff like that now. But you know,
(12:58):
he's adapting to it day by day and we're seeing
massive changes in in you know how he's adapting to
to you know, he's a new kind of normal. Yeah,
and he just yeah, he absolutely adored his older brother
and sister.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
So just I'm looking at a photo of them now, mate,
they look you look like you've got the most beautiful
little family.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
He looks like a gorgeous little guy.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
And and your other two children, they look like a beautiful, beautiful.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Trio of kids.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
And and look, I know what the Northern Territory community
is like. I know that when the chips are down,
that is when people come together and really try to
help each other out. So, DJ, where can we Where
can we find this go fund me page? How can
people find it if they're listening this morning and they
want to help your little family?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Yeah, so I was posted on the go funmy page.
It's been it's been published on Mark Turner's Facebook page,
the MLA of Palmerston. It's been posted on his social media.
It's on my social media, it's on I'm going to
imagine it's on half of dar on social media. At
the moment, I reckon it is. It's gained a lot
(14:10):
of gained a lot of attention.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
I've had half of Darwin contact me.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
I think half of Darwin has contacted me to say
can we can we get you on? So people really
want to help, They really really want to help you.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah. Look, and we're receiving you know, my partner's receiving
hundreds of messages a day since since we've posted it.
So I've posted the gofund me, but my partner's put
up a bit more of a personal outlook on you know,
what we've been through the past, you know, two months,
two or so months, and I think her her post
has definitely gained a lot of a lot of attention
(14:46):
just because it does give a bit of a better
insight to to what, you know, what we what we
felt as parents, you know, and there's some there's some
images also attached to that, you know, some some people
may not want to view, but you just to show people,
you know that, you know, like yeah, basically what we
went through. And it's not such an informative thing, it
(15:07):
kind of yeah, just more of.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
A personal thing for people to understand.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Yeah. Yeah, So she's definitely gained a lot of attention
based on that. And you know, so we we do, yeah,
we feel the support. I mentally, I've had yet. Like
I said, I've had dozens of small businesses reach out
and provide assistance, you know, offered different types of assistance,
even if it's not financial. You know, they've offered to
do things for us. They've Yeah, it's been incredible and
(15:35):
I couldn't Yeah, I just couldn't think the people who
have supported us enough and you know, just.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Well, we'll make sure that we share.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah, sure, we will make sure that we share that
link on the on the Mixed one o four nine
Facebook page so that people can jump on there and
and help your little family.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
DJ.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Let's try and catch up again in the coming days.
I'm gonna if look, if the other media aren't listening
already this morning, I'm going to make sure that I
let them know as well about the situation that your
little family is going through. I think that if there
is any support that we as a Northern Territory community
can give you a little boy, and to give to
(16:15):
you guys, it is absolutely worth doing. So please keep
in contact with us, let us know if there's any
other way that we can help. But DJ, I really
appreciate you having a chat with me this morning. So
much love to you and Zoe and your little family.
Please keep us up to date with how things are
going with Kihali.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
No. I definitely will, and I really appreciate you letting
me talk today and just sharing our story and getting
it out there, and any time mate him across.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
This honestly, anytime, please keep please keep us up to
date with how things are going. We do want to
really try to help you guys to raise that money
to be able to get across there and make sure
that Kali can get that treatment.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
That he needs.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Thanks Mike. Good to speak with you this morning. Thank you,
Thanks so much
Now, over the last day or so, we've been contacted
by a number of listeners really keen to support a
local family who've discovered that they're then six sixteen month
old son has a tumor and well after countless surgeries,
they're hoping to access treatment in the United States, but
it is going to be an incredibly costly experience or
(00:22):
exercise to try and get that support for their little one.
Now joining me on the line to tell me more
about his son's battle is his father, Dennis yev Danovich.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Good morning to your DJ.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Good morning, are you Ye're not bad?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Mate?
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Talk me through little Kiali's journey so far.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Yeah, so it was just a little bit before Christmas
and myself and my family we went to play Shack
and Parmestan, just have a bit of a family family
morning and take the kid just for a bit of
a play and we are Kiali. We were playing in
the baby area whilst the two older kids was playing
in the bigger kids area and Calli was just running around.
(01:06):
Everything was pretty normal, and yeah, he just had a
bit of an episode where he just lost his balance
and coordination and unable to walk, and we thought he
just made a bit a bit tired, and so we
picked him up and just nursed him for a little
while and he then I started to sweat really badly.
So we were a bit concerned about like his behavior
(01:28):
and what was going on and one thing that's another,
and we took him to the Parmestan Regional Hospital, being
the closest hospital, where they then transferred us across the
ARDH for some tests and stuff like that. They basically
just we were told that it was potentially a seizure.
Then it happens regularly with young young children Kali's age,
(01:50):
and this seizure actually caused Kelli to have a bit
of a kink in his neck, and for about two
or three weeks post we were a bit unsure about
the king, what caused the king in the neck, So
we did a few more follow ups and a few
more appointments and stuff like that, and that we met
this really nice pediatrician at the Royal Dane Hospital who
(02:11):
pretty much issued an emergency MRI for us. And two
days later after that appointment, we went to this m
RI and yeah, Cai had his m RI and that
showed that he had a brain tumor in the lower
part of his brain, called the cerebellum, which was quite
devastating to Zoe and I that leaning on from that,
(02:36):
we kind of got rushed across the Queensland Children's Hospital
where we you know, a couple of weeks of what
week of planning, surgery planning and stuff like that, where
they basically informed us that the tumor where it kind
of developed and stuff like that, it started to wrap
around his brain stem and then started to drop into
his spinal cord, which is what they believe is causing
(02:58):
which caused the kink in the neck along with it
wrapping around the brainstem and compressing on a lot of
vital nerves and stuff like that. Yeah, so it was
just a fortunate enough event that it kind of happened
in front of us, so we were able to tell
the tell the medical staff and stuff like that what
kind of went on and stuff, and one thing led
(03:19):
to another and we actually caught it relatively early for
what it is, and they say that a lot of
these pandemomas, well these tumors don't really get diagnosed until
children are about four or five. So as bad as
the episode was, you know, in the situation, you know,
we were fortunate enough that he's shown shown us a
(03:41):
bit of a symptom to make us a bit more
persistent in terms of, you know, pushing.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
For absolutely absolutely DJ tell me how old is little Kiali?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Now he's eighteen months?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Oh so he's still only a little fella made.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
How's he you know, how's he been going with some
you know, with the treatment that he's been having to
get through, and how is that prognosis at this point?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yeah, So, the the surgery went really well despite the
cumul location. We were kind of informed that it was
a it was a pretty bad area. You know, it
wasn't there wasn't really good. There was no good outcomes
to what we were hearing. But you know, based on
what they can see on m R is a lot
(04:33):
different to when they actually go in for the operation.
So fortunate enough for us. You know, we were told
the surgery was only going to go for about four
or five hours. That surgery pushed out to about a
nine hour operation during the time of operation because Ohie
and I were just you know, we weren't too sure
of what to expect, you know, when we got told,
you know, four or five hours and it pushes out
(04:55):
to eight hours and pushes out to the nine hour mark,
and we weren't sure to think if it was a
good thing or a bad thing, And.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
You must have been beside yourselves.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Oh yeah, it was. There was I can definitely say
there was moments there where we were just walking around
the hospital very mindless. Felt like a bit of a zombie. Yeah,
just not just very uncertain, you know, you know what
what the future looked like. And I think the best
thing was we took our older kids with us to
be together with the family during it, and that kind
(05:26):
of kept us both preoccupied. I guess you could say.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yeah, absolutely, you know, you're looking after after your other
two children and it does keep you.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
You're busy.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
So how is Kiale going at this at this point
in time.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
He's doing great. He's loving being back back home. We're
back in do now, so you know, he's back around
his home surroundings and you know, just around his toys
and stuff. He's full of life, and he's always full
of life before before the operation. So you know, it's
good to see him come back to to some kind
of normality. We're not too sure you know that how
(06:05):
he's going to how you know the proton therapy is
going to play out in terms of how his behavior
and stuff's going to be during PUS you know, different
surroundings and stuff like that. But I think you know,
doing it together as a family or kind of keep
him in a very positive, positive mindset. You know, he
looks up to his looks up to his big brother
and sister.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
So and so DJ Essentially, now, Kali does still need
to need to have some further surgeries and you are
hoping or you're hoping to access treatment in the United States.
Can you talk us through what that treatment is and
and what's really needed.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, So, so that he's only had the he's had
the one surgery in Queensland Children's Hospital which was actually
quite successful. They managed to remove a gross total of
the tumor. They called it a gross total resection, which
which basically up post scans now from the surgery state
that he's got about a three millimeter tumor remaining, which
(07:07):
is sufficient enough for us to have this proton therapy
offered to us. So there's actually like a criteria you
have to meet to have this proton therapy offered to you,
which is really fortunate for us to be able to
go down this line. Obviously. The only downside to this is,
you know, the cost is very extensive. There is Commonwealth
(07:30):
funding available for this treatment as it's outside of Australia.
We don't have a proton therapy clinic in Australia at
the moment. We believe that there's one going online by
the end of next year twenty twenty five. However we don't.
We don't have that kind of time to wait.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Well, you want to do absolutely everything you can to
your little fella to make sure that he's going to
be okay. You and Zoe want to do, you know,
like you want to do what any parent would do,
and that is to get them over there and get
that treatment.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
We've come home basically from Brisbane and you know we've
sold whatever assets we had just to try and get
funds together. It was only that we had a few people,
just a few really close friends of ours, saying like, look,
you know, the community is a great place and you know,
why don't you just try your luck with a GoFundMe.
You know, like, you know, people really reach out and
dig deep for you know, for something like this, and
(08:27):
you know you had to put you know, hard for
Zoe and I, but you know, just had to put
the pride aside and you know, just reach out for
that help and and yeah, it's yeah, it's been amazing,
Like the last few days since I posted the gofund me,
the amount of support and people reaching out small businesses,
it's been incredible, Like, yeah, I was not expecting this
(08:47):
kind of you know turnaround and turn out, you know
like that. Yeah, just it's crazy the amount of people
that have reached out to us over the past three days.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
And mate, I'm not surprised because, you know, you seem
like a lovely block. You seem like you've got a
beautiful little family and to be in this situation through
you know, no fault of your own in any way,
shape or form. For your little fella to be battling
this at eighteen months of age is such a tough
(09:17):
situation for you guys to be And I assume that
you've had to put your lives on hold as well
your jobs on hold last year and towards the beginning
of this year as this diagnosis was you know, was
was delivered to you.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Yeah, definitely, And that's basically what it's been. I'm actually
supposed to start an apprenticeship this year with Power and Water,
but you know I had I've had to put that
on hold, and likely Power Water you know, they you know,
they've been very supportive of the whole situation as well.
And yeah, no, it's it's what you do though, when
you know when he comes first at the end of
(09:52):
the day, and you know, and you know his health
is you know, my priority at the moment, and if
we can get him over there to get the treatment
stuff like that. Like I said, like we've had a
lot of people reach out. You know, other families that
have also been over to this Florida in particular for
this treatment as well, have all had really good success
stories and we just hope we can fit into that
(10:15):
same category and you know, come back with another positive
success story.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And let's make it happen. We've got to make it happen.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
How much money at the moment you go fund me
pages sitting at ninety eight, five hundred and forty five dollars,
but you've still got a long way to go.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
How much do you need to.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Get to the proton therapy alans one hundred and sixty
three thousand US, which obviously when you when you transfer
that across to Australian. Yeah, I think it works out
to be well over the two hudred and fifty thousand
dollars Australian. So that's just that aspect. You know, the
treatment goes for about forty four days and they only
(10:54):
do it Monday to Friday, so you know, potentially we're
looking at being over there for three months, will you know,
And like I said, we really want to try and
keep our family together, you know, to travel over there.
That them times just cover the proton therapy that's not included,
the flights to travel over there, the accommodation whilst we're there.
(11:15):
You know, I've reached out to Ronald McDonald house because
they know they put us up in Brisbane when we're there.
So we're just waiting to hear back from them as
well and just try and gauge you know, what kind
of assistance we can get or you know, you know
coming people go through every day.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
That's right mate.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
What about in terms of you mentioned before that there
is some Commonwealth government assistance that could be available. Do
you have any idea how much that would be?
Speaker 3 (11:44):
So the common Wealth assistance pretty much covers the proton
therapy and the and one parent to travel across to
with with Kali. They so Kali six weeks post off
now they tend to or we've been told that they
like to. They would like to. They really want to
get him across to the USA before twelve weeks post
(12:07):
post Obviously, it just puts his chances a bit higher
and stuff like that in terms of how effective of
the radiation and stuff is. But sorry, I've had a
bit of a mind.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Yeah, tell us how is little Kiali doing at the moment,
And how's your little family unuch going at the moment,
because you know, like I can't imagine how tough it's
been for you and Zoe and and you know for
the kids.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, he's doing really well considering you know, like there
was a few little issues post surgery where you know,
he suffered a facial paralyzed paraization and a voice box paralyzation.
So he's got a bit of a staggy cheek, his
eli doesn't doesn't close anymore, and he really struggles to
swallow fluids and stuff like that now. But you know,
(12:58):
he's adapting to it day by day and we're seeing
massive changes in in you know how he's adapting to
to you know, he's a new kind of normal. Yeah,
and he just yeah, he absolutely adored his older brother
and sister.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
So just I'm looking at a photo of them now, mate,
they look you look like you've got the most beautiful
little family.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
He looks like a gorgeous little guy.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
And and your other two children, they look like a beautiful, beautiful.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Trio of kids.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
And and look, I know what the Northern Territory community
is like. I know that when the chips are down,
that is when people come together and really try to
help each other out. So, DJ, where can we Where
can we find this go fund me page? How can
people find it if they're listening this morning and they
want to help your little family?
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Yeah, so I was posted on the go funmy page.
It's been it's been published on Mark Turner's Facebook page,
the MLA of Palmerston. It's been posted on his social media.
It's on my social media, it's on I'm going to
imagine it's on half of dar on social media. At
the moment, I reckon it is. It's gained a lot
(14:10):
of gained a lot of attention.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
I've had half of Darwin contact me.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
I think half of Darwin has contacted me to say
can we can we get you on? So people really
want to help, They really really want to help you.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Yeah. Look, and we're receiving you know, my partner's receiving
hundreds of messages a day since since we've posted it.
So I've posted the gofund me, but my partner's put
up a bit more of a personal outlook on you know,
what we've been through the past, you know, two months,
two or so months, and I think her her post
has definitely gained a lot of a lot of attention
(14:46):
just because it does give a bit of a better
insight to to what, you know, what we what we
felt as parents, you know, and there's some there's some
images also attached to that, you know, some some people
may not want to view, but you just to show people,
you know that, you know, like yeah, basically what we
went through. And it's not such an informative thing, it
(15:07):
kind of yeah, just more of.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
A personal thing for people to understand.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Yeah. Yeah, So she's definitely gained a lot of attention
based on that. And you know, so we we do, yeah,
we feel the support. I mentally, I've had yet. Like
I said, I've had dozens of small businesses reach out
and provide assistance, you know, offered different types of assistance,
even if it's not financial. You know, they've offered to
do things for us. They've Yeah, it's been incredible and
(15:35):
I couldn't Yeah, I just couldn't think the people who
have supported us enough and you know, just.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Well, we'll make sure that we share.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah, sure, we will make sure that we share that
link on the on the Mixed one o four nine
Facebook page so that people can jump on there and
and help your little family.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
DJ.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Let's try and catch up again in the coming days.
I'm gonna if look, if the other media aren't listening
already this morning, I'm going to make sure that I
let them know as well about the situation that your
little family is going through. I think that if there
is any support that we as a Northern Territory community
can give you a little boy, and to give to
(16:15):
you guys, it is absolutely worth doing. So please keep
in contact with us, let us know if there's any
other way that we can help. But DJ, I really
appreciate you having a chat with me this morning. So
much love to you and Zoe and your little family.
Please keep us up to date with how things are
going with Kihali.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
No. I definitely will, and I really appreciate you letting
me talk today and just sharing our story and getting
it out there, and any time mate him across.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
This honestly, anytime, please keep please keep us up to
date with how things are going. We do want to
really try to help you guys to raise that money
to be able to get across there and make sure
that Kali can get that treatment.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
That he needs.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Thanks Mike. Good to speak with you this morning. Thank you,
Thanks so much
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