Indy’s special vision
A Curlewis 10-year-old is raising money for blood disease research
FOR Indyanna Harper, a rare condition has meant bruising, chemotherapy, a bonemarrow transplant and isolation.
The Curlewis 10-year-old was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia in early 2017.
“We had to live up in Melbourne for about four months, me and Indyanna, where she got chemo,” her mother, Loree Harper, said.
An upcoming fundraiser at Drysdale will raise awareness for aplastic anaemia and money for Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, which has supported Indyanna and her family throughout their journey with aplastic anaemia.
Maddie Riewoldt, the sister of footy legend Nick, died in 2015 after a battle with the same blood disorder.
Indyanna’s sister Madison, 15, donated bone marrow so Indyanna could undergo a transplant.
“Now (Indyanna’s) got Madison’s blood type and her hair colour,” Ms Harper explained.
When she returned to Geelong, Indyanna remained in isolation.
She’s now back at school, although “her immune system’s not where it should be”, Ms Harper said.
“It could take years to come back up, and we can’t stop her living her life, she has to live her life,” she said.
Indyanna has constant testing, and Ms Harper said “we can’t say that she’s cured”.
“I reckon the chemo was the hardest part of the whole thing,” she said.
The Cars and Coffee event is being hosted by Old Skool Street Cars Geelong at Autopro Drysdale on Sunday, February 25, between 9am and 12pm.
Australian and American muscle cars will be on display, with a barbecue breakfast and coffee van on hand to fuel attendees. Entry is a gold coin donation and a raffle will also raise funds for the Maddie Riewoldt foundation.