Son’s shock diagnosis prompts family to do more for others Brave health struggle
A TOWNSVILLE family is putting aside their anguish over their son’s life- threatening diagnosis to help raise awareness and funds for medical research.
Bob and Debbie Thompson’s son Damien, 30, was given a grim diagnosis seven years ago that changed his and his close- knit family’s life.
“Damien was one of the fittest young men I knew before his diagnosis, he played representative soccer as a youngster and led a healthy life,” his father said.
“He had been feeling lethargic and tired though for a while and eventually he got it checked out.
“The results just blew us away. It was the last thing we expected.”
Blood tests showed Damien had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. What followed the 2011 diagnosis was seven years of “pretty tough times”.
But Bob, who owns Bayswater Road Radiators, said three months of chemotherapy, a bone- marrow transplant, a lung transplant and a double hip replacement had not taken away his son’s positive and laid- back attitude.
“We thought we’d lose him twice throughout all this,” he said. “He is alive because of his bloody- minded determination to be here.
“He is a top bloke. I may be biased but that’s what he is.”
Bob said the past seven years had been “tough” for his son and the whole family.
“Initially Damien wasn’t eligible for the lung transplant and we had to plead our case ... to put him on the transplant program,” he said.
“Damien didn’t initially fit in with the guidelines for lung transplant recipients due to treatment from the bone marrow transplant.
“We questioned that. We questioned why he didn’t have a right to life just because of some rigid medical guidelines.
“Our resolve paid off when he was put on the program.”
Damien had a lung transplant 10 months ago, and on Monday underwent surgery to replace both hips, which were weakened by his medi- cation for the bone marrow transplant.
He is recovering in Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane with his mother by his bedside.
Bob said his son’s health issues had a life- changing impact on him.
“It has made me focus on other people even more,” the Townsville Central Rotary Club member said.
“I now have a real sense of other people’s struggles and I want to help in any way I can.”
The family, and members of the Townsville Central Rotary Club, have raised nearly $ 80,000 from two vintage high teas in the past few years to donate to the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute based in Brisbane.
The QIMR Berghofer works with clinicians and research institutes worldwide, translating discoveries into prevention strategies, new diagnostics and better treatments.
On May 11, QIMR Berghofer di- rector Professor Frank Gannon will give a presentation at a lunch in Townsville.
Bob said the presentation would address the research projects in progress at the institute, recent medical research breakthroughs and how the findings impact the community in terms of prevention, diagnostics, treatment and survivorship.
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