Family's fight after boy, 10, loses sight to rare childhood cancer
The family of a 10-year-old Ballarat boy who has lost his sight and both eyes to a rare childhood cancer is determined to give him a bright future.
Jarrah Podesta’s doctors tried every type of treatment to save his eyes, but sadly both had to be removed.
The boy’s first eye was removed when he was two-years-old after doctors found a rare cancer called retinoblastoma.
But last year the tumours returned, this time attacking his remaining eye.
“Jarrah was cleaning the table and popping food all over the floor and we said, ‘can’t you see what’s happening’, and he said, ‘nup, can’t see’,” his mum Bella said.
“So his vision had deteriorated but he felt bad and didn’t want to say anything.”
Jarrah lost his sight just four months ago, but his mother said her bubbly 10-year-old was taking it in his stride.
“He just seizes the moment and is a go getter. He doesn’t give up,” she said.
After several rounds of chemotherapy, Jarrah was left with no other option.
“Jarrah then made the decision to remove his last eye in June. It’s been a really difficult journey,” his mum said.
The aspiring guitarist is now learning to care for his poodle Chino in preparation for a guide dog.
“I think that it would be pretty helpful so I’d know where to stop at a road or something,” Jarrah said.
How you can help Jarrah
While the young boy is already making great progress, his family needs money to make modifications their home and to buy expensive school equipment.
A GoFundMe page has already raised more than $21,400 to assist the boy’s family.
The community is also putting on a fundraising concert for him this Sunday at the Campbells Creek Community Centre.
