A mother who launched a desperate bid to raise $500,000 for her son’s life-saving bone marrow transplant has been told the operation will go ahead even if she can’t afford it.
Brisbane woman Amelia Corzo-Remigio had been trying to pull the funds together for her son Daniel’s operation, after the six-year-old was diagnosed with the aggressive B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in January last year.
Daniel underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and went into remission after the first stage of treatment.
But a check-up in July this year showed the cancer had returned with little Daniel now in a race against time to receive a bone marrow transplant.
Amelia Corzo Remigio had been trying to pull the funds together for her son Daniel’s operation, after the six-year-old was diagnosed with the aggressive B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in January last year
Ms Corzo Remigio moved to Australia from Peru in 2018 with her husband and Daniel when he was just 18-months-old, and Daniel’s older brother.
Because they aren’t permanent residents, they don’t have access to Medicare and their insurance does not cover the bone marrow transplant.
‘The transplant is too expensive. Going back to Peru is not an option, as the medical system is already saturated and a delay can reduce chances of Daniel surviving,’ the mother wrote on a GoFundMe.
The fundraiser amassed more than $136,000 in just over two weeks but Daniel’s family were still more than $350,000 short.
Ms Corzo Remigio made a plea to Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, who on Sunday night incredibly announced the operation would go ahead – regardless of whether the $500,000 was secured.
‘While we encourage the community to donate if they can, Daniel’s family will not be asked to pay more than they are able to, either before or after the operation,’ Ms Fentiman said.
‘I want to wish brave little Daniel good luck and a speedy recovery.’
Ms Corzo Remigio said she felt like her ‘soul returned to my body’ after hearing the news.
‘I feel reassured that Daniel will receive all the care that he needs to save his life,’ she told the ABC.
Ms Corzo Remigio moved to Australia from Peru in 2018 with her husband and Daniel when he was just 18-months-old, and Daniel’s older brother (pictured together)
‘We are eternally grateful for every donation … and everyone’s work that has led us to this point. We thank the health minister … for taking time to look into our case.’
Ms Corzo Remigio had moved her family to Australia in 2018 to pursue a PhD at the University of Queensland.
‘Over the last 5 years, Australia has become my family’s home,’ she said.
‘We have worked and built our lives here and we are surrounded by a beautiful community.’
Last year, Ms Corzo Remigio finished her PhD and got a research fellow position at Queensland University’s Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Upon launching the GoFundMe, the mother said she understood it was a ‘tremendous’ amount of money.
‘We believe communities are stronger when they come together and that we can make a difference in one child’s life,’ she said.
‘Every dollar increases Daniel’s chance of survival!’