Drouin dad is tops
Drouin father Chris Youngman was shocked and humbled to be announced Victorian Father of the Year on Friday.
Chris, 36, gave up work to keep his family together after baby boy Lucas was diagnosed with leukaemia just days after his first birthday.
“I’m just doing what you do for your family.”
Drouin father Chris Youngman was shocked and humbled to be announced Victorian Father of the Year on Friday.
Chris, 36, gave up work to keep his family together after his son Lucas was diagnosed with leukaemia just days after his first birthday. He is also dad to four-year-old Ethan and 22-month-old Noah who is Lucas’ twin brother.
“I didn’t even know Alana (Chris’ wife) had nominated me. I didn’t really know what to think, I was a little bit hesitant.
“I’m just doing what you do for your family. You do your best. I genuinely don’t think there’s anything special with what I’ve done. Other dads would be doing the same.”
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s an honour,” he emphasised. “It’s humbling to be considered in this way.”
Alana Youngman nominated her husband for the top accolade by YMCA Victoria in association with The Father’s Day Council of Victoria.
“He kept our whole family together which I feel is saving our son’s life,” she said in the nomination. “He has gone far and beyond as a father and a husband. His story is an inspiration to other fathers.”
Drouin local Samantha Harmes, who has been friends with Chris for 10 years, also praised the humble dad.
“Not once has he ever complained,” Ms Harmes said. “He’s never said, ‘I’m so tired’, or ‘it’s so hard’. I don’t know anyone like that. I’ve been saying for years, Chris is just one of a kind.”
The judges agreed and, from more than 220 nominations, selected Chris’ story of sacrifice, determination and strength against staggering adversity to win the Victorian Father of the Year.
The Youngman family welcomed twins Lucas and Noah in 2017. Born premature at 27 weeks, the boys spent 10 weeks at The Royal Women’s Hospital.
With Alana recovering from a C-section, Chris drove threehour trips to deliver breast milk to the twins in hospital.
The twins thrived and Chris and Alana celebrated their first birthday. However, Alana was concerned Lucas looked pale and unwell.
Chris said the leukaemia diagnosis was devastating.
“After a tough year, we dared to take a breath. It was brutal.”
Lucas was immediately admitted to hospital and what followed was a whirlwind of doctors, specialists and social workers. Chris resigned from his job as a production planner at Pure Harvest the day his son was diagnosed with cancer.
For the next nine months, while Lucas was in hospital receiving chemotherapy and cancer treatments, Chris hardly left his son’s side.
Over the days and months, Chris noticed how important it was for their brave little battler to be with his two brothers.
Chris described a moment when the boys had spent a few days apart. Lucas was in his hospital bed cocooned in a sterile plastic wrap and the boys were eager to see him.
“The boys reached out and pressed their hands against the plastic to touch Lucas. It was only then that we realised how much they missed each other.”
But it hasn’t been easy keeping the family together. Chris stretched out his remaining long service leave for income as the family had to move base eight times in nine months. They were grateful for fundraising support from the Drouin community and nine-months of accommodation at Ronald McDonald House.
In February, the family moved in with Alana’s parents in Gembrook and rented out their home to cover the mortgage.
Lucas was able to leave hospital in late July but still has daily treatment. He is currently in remission, has just taken his first steps and is quickly developing as a cheeky 22month-year-old.
Chris and Alana are thankful for their good luck and support of family, friends and the Drouin community. Chris is now working a few days a week and describes the experience as “a good dose of perspective”.
“It’s surprising what you can do when you have to,” he said. “Being a dad, it’s something you don’t realise how hard it is until you do it, but it’s really rewarding.”