Community rallies around sick pupil and his family
An outpouring of community support has warmed the hearts of amanawatu¯ family whose child has cancer.
Domanic Grant, 7, has just been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia and was taken to Starship children’s hospital in Auckland for treatment. His family say the cancer is treatable and they hope Domanic will be home by the end of the year.
His mother Cherie is with him in Auckland, while father Phil is at home in Shannon running a busy household with children Krystal, 10, Cadyn, 9, Hunter, 5, Lusin, 3, and 18-month-old Asgeirr.
Domanic, Krystal, Cadyn and
Hunter go to Tokomaru School. Since the school found out Domanic was sick last weekend, it has sprung into action and is running events this week to raise money for the family.
Other members of the community and friends have also helped with donations or packages.
‘‘We’re not wealthy, but the amount of love and support has been overwhelming, heartmeltingly overwhelming,’’ Phil Grant said. ‘‘There are people we never knew were out there until something like this happened.
‘‘People came from nowhere, even if it was dropping off a can of baked beans or giving their love. When you think you have no-one and you’re doing it on your own, the community has come together.’’
Tokomaru School had been amazing, Phil Grant said.
The school put on a barbecue
for the family, is providing the Grant children’s lunches for the rest of the school term, and is holding a hot-rod cruise and display fundraiser day tomorrow, where there will also be raffles, food trucks and live music.
‘‘It’s been a crazy rollercoaster, but an awesome show of love,’’ Phil Grant said.
A Givealittle page has also been set up to raise funds for the family and the school is organising a food drive and asking for donations of non-perishable food.
The school has been keen to help since Domanic went to hospital. He came home sick from school and looked like he had hay fever.
Two days later he was pale and was experiencing recurring headaches, so the family took him to a doctor, who sent Domanic to hospital and he was then taken to Starship.
Phil Grant said Domanic had a lot of medication to take and the family were trying to keep his spirits up. The family video call Domanic multiple times a day and Phil and Domanic play online games together.
Phil Grant said the cancer was treatable and he hoped Domanic would go into remission.
‘‘As long as he stays on top of his medication hopefully he should be home by Christmas.’’
Domanic also has older siblings Josh, 19, and Lili, 16, and Phil Grant said the family were ready to donate bone marrow for a transplant if required.
Tokomaru School deputy principal Mel Scott said the school wanted to help the family as much as possible.
Senior pupils suggested running a mufti day to raise funds, and the home and school association is organising baking for the children’s lunches.
Scott said there had been an amazing response from local businesses.