Two-year-old Altona Meadows resident Isabelle, who has leukaemia. 68560
By Alesha Capone
AT ONLY two years old, tiny Isabelle has experienced a tough start to life.
In May, the young Altona Meadows resident was diagnosed with leukaemia and even spent her second birthday as a patient at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
While most girls her age spend their time playing, Isabelle has weekly blood tests and clinical appointments at the RCH and takes five different medications daily.
Isabelle’s family – parents John and Leeann Caruana and her older sister Lela, aged five – know their beloved little girl will need medical treatment for many years to come.
“Isabelle requires painful lumbar punctures and bone marrow aspirate throughout her treatment,” Mrs Caruana said.
“Isabelle has chemotherapy and insuflon immunisation on a regular basis.”
Her daughter has also been admitted to the RCH twice, suffering high temperatures – during Isabelle’s second visit, she stayed in an isolation room, which she was unable to leave.
“At the end of August we will be starting our next phase of treatment which means we will be in hospital for one week, home for another week on-and-off for three months,” Mrs Caruana said.
Unfortunately, every time Isabelle develops a high temperature her treatment gets delayed.
Mr Caruana has cut his work days to two every week so he can help to care for his daughters, but the Altona Meadows community has also come together to support the family.
A group of women who know the Caruana’s through Lela’s kindergarten have formed a not-for-profit group called Isabelle’s Angels.
The ‘angels’, Maria, Melissa, Kelly, Sonya, Karen and Lyndall, have organised a charity auction night at the Waterstone Café in Sanctuary Lakes on Saturday 27 August to raise funds for the family.
On the night there will be plenty of goods, silent auctions and raffles available, including AFL memorabilia, boxing gloves signed by kickboxers Stan The Man and George The Iron Lion, a Melbourne Storm signed and framed jumper, jewellery, vouchers, golf clubs, tools and accommodation.
Mrs Caruana thanked the group of mothers who have organised the charity auction.
“Every one of the Isabelle’s Angels holds a special place in our hearts forever,” she said.
Organisers of the event have appealed for anyone with goods or services to donate to the auction – or who wants to buy tickets – to contact isabellesangels@hotmail.com, Kelly on 0416 241 377 or Maria on 0407 090 687.
The auction will be on at Waterstone Café, Sanctuary Lakes, 72 Greg Norman Drive, Saturday 27 August, 7pm-midnight. Tickets: $40 including finger food and drinks at bar prices.
