IT’S a long way from Junee to Newcastle, but it’s where one Junee boy has had to go for treatment for cancer.
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Bailon Johnson, 3, been diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer in his abodomen and is currently undergoing a lengthy treatment process.
His father Randy, a full-time single father, had to leave his three daughters, aged between two and eight, behind in Tamworth while Bailon gets treatment.
Because of his son’s age, Mr Johnson cannot leave his son’s bedside and can’t work to pay the mounting medical bills.
However, while he was researching his son’s illness online, a solution was found – crowd-funding.
Through the site Peoplepledge, Mr Johnson has raised close to $4000 and is well on his way to the goal of $7000.
The website enables family, friends and the public to make donations to people struggling with medical bills.
“The initial plan is to have the treatment done in six to nine months, but it depends on how treatment goes,” Mr Johnson said.
Doctors have said Bailon has a 40 to 60 per cent chance of being cured and will need multiple visits to Newcastle in the months and years ahead.
The tumour found in Bailon’s abdomen in April is approximately the size of a butternut pumpkin.
For Bailon, life used to be about South Sydney (his favourite footy team) and Spongebob, but these days it’s about syringes and stitches.
“He has his moments,” Mr Johnson said.
“There are days where he’s really cranky and irritable and he’s sort of had enough.
“Other days he’s his happy-go-lucky self.
“It’s still very scary at times, there’s still so much that can go wrong.”
Locals can make a donation by visiting www.peoplepledge.com.au.