Heartfelt crusade for sick brother
‘WHY?’ is the question Toowoomba woman Tamara Michelle’ i has been asking herself since her youngest sibling Thomas Smith was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Inspired by her 21-year-old brother’s decision to shave his head for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave, Ms Michelle’ i is helping him reach his fundraising target.
Despite Mr Smith living in Winton, Ms Michelle’ i said the generosity of the Toowoomba community was humbling.
“To see people come together for the purpose of helping my brother, who is a stranger to them, means a lot,” she said.
“I may not be able to be with him in person, but I’m doing what I can to support him from here in Toowoomba.”
She and her friend Tanya Grant held an event earlier this month and raised hundreds of dollars for Mr Smith.
Mr Smith, who was only diagnosed with the stage four cancer on February 24, decided to shave his lengthy locks last weekend, before he started his second round of chemotherapy.
Since launching the fundraiser, the group has already raised more than $4000 for the Leukaemia Foundation.
Ms Michelle’ i said her brother had been feeling unwell for about 12 months before he received his diagnosis.
While most people his age were travelling, having fun and working towards building their futures, she said her brother had to make “confronting” decisions.
Mr Smith, who was working as an accounting assistant, had been growing his hair for more than two years before the shave and it was a huge part of his individualism.
“My brother isn’t one to feel sorry for himself in these situations, but there definitely is that sense of ‘why me’ because other kids his age don’t have to worry about this,” Ms Michelle’ i said.
Describing her younger brother as independent, intelligent, caring and protective, Ms Michelle’ i said her family was trying to remain positive as the cancer had since spread to Mr Smith’s liver and spleen.
“My brother went from feeling unwell to being diagnosed with cancer and starting treatment within a matter of two weeks,” she said.
“Our whole family was shocked and all our lives have just completely changed … our lives have been turned upside down.
Ms Grant, who assisted with the fundraising efforts in Toowoomba, went through her own battle in 2020 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Now in remission, Ms Grant said the experience made her practise gratitude every day.
“An experience like that really makes you think about what others are going through, and a small amount can go such a long way to make a difference in someone’s life,” she said.
The Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave week runs from March 15 to 19. To donate to Mr Smith’s fundraising page visit my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/lindasmith