Wee Toon rallies round cancer child
WHEN times get tough, the Campbeltown community always supports those who need help.
The family of Kurt Smiley, a five-year-old Dalintober pupil, who was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of June, have discovered this as a Go-Fund-Me page set up on June 15 has already raised more than £4,300.
A fundraising walk from Westport beach to Machrihanish on July 9 will also help raise money for the family as they travel to and stay in Glasgow while he receives chemotherapy treatment for possibly five months.
Kurt’s mother, Jo Duncan, 31, father Tom Smiley and grandmother, Julie MacKenzie, 53, have been amazed at the town’s response.
Julie said: ‘It has been overwhelming really. It is amazing how a small town can pull together.
‘We have everything crossed – fingers, toes, ears. The doctors are very hopeful he will come out of it and we are all trying to stay as positive as we can.’
Three months ago the family noticed that Kurt was struggling to eat and was losing weight.
Jo took Kurt to a Campbeltown health centre doctor who thought he may have had constipation, a diagnosis backed up by another medic.
Julie said: ‘The medication for constipation just made his symptoms worse, by adding diarrhoea when he was going to the toilet fine before.
‘I told Jo we needed to see another doctor, which we did and he referred Kurt to a paediatrician. The consultant visited on June 6, and found a lump that was hurting Kurt.
‘We were told he needed to be flown up to Paisley immediately. When we heard that, we looked at each other and knew it was something serious.’
After the first scan, medical staff believed Kurt’s bowel may have folded in on itself, but the following day the family discovered the real cause was a non-Hodgkin lymphoma tumour.
Julie, who has worked as a cab driver for Fona Taxi for 12 years, is looking after Kurt’s sister Kahlan, one, as is Gail Brodie, his other grandmother Jean. While mum Jo stays by Kurt’s side in Glasgow.
The beach walk has been organised by Julie’s close friend Nadine McLellan, with West Coast Motors providing a free busby leaving from Campbeltown bus station at 10.30am on Saturday July 9 for an 11am start.
The walk will culminate at Machrihanish Village Hall for a children’s fun day event, with a bouncy castle, face painting and refreshments.
Whisky Mac’s has organised a charity quiz night hosted by Jamie G in aid of Kurt, which will take place on Tuesday July 5 at 8pm.
Speaking about Kurt’s Go-Fund-Me page, Jo said: ‘Thank you all so much. We are overwhelmed with your generosity.’
Anyone wishing to donate to the family can do so at the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/29nunmk.