Family seeks help for daughter

A Woy Woy family is seeking help from the Peninsula community for their daughter who is suffering from a rare brain disorder.

T'Keyah Dawson is just four and a half months old and is suffering from Dandy Walker Syndrome, a condition which occurs when the back of the brain does not form properly.

Doctors have placed three shunts in her head to deal with the fluid on her brain and a hole in the membrane in her brain, because only one side was draining.

The part of her brain that communicates between its two spheres does not work and this will affect her mobility and speech in the future.

She has seen seven doctors and has already had three operations.

Family friend Catherine Kilpatrick is organising a fundraiser for the Dawsons to provide for T'Keyahs needs as she grows up.

The Dawson have four other children 10, 7, 5 years and 18 months old and have to travel to Sydney every couple of weeks to visit T'Keyah's doctors.

On their last visit, they stayed for two weeks, with T'Keyah having two operations in that time.

They are hoping a fundraiser may be able to provide them with a new car, as their current station wagon is 15 years old.

They also need specialist equipment.

A reclining high chair will be needed to support her until she is at least three.

A special pram will be needed until she is around five years old, and eventually she may need a wheelchair.

Mother Ms Kerry Dawson said that the family did not have a wide support network with no one in Sydney to stay with when they visited doctors, and they needed a little help locally to care for her four other children on those occasions.

"It's all those little things you don't think of," she said.

Mr Dawson is unemployed, and unable to keep work while he must travel to Sydney with his daughter when she becomes ill.

Ms Dawson said that doctors could not be sure what the future holds for T'Keyah.

She will have developmental problems, and struggle with her motor skills.

"Through the Internet we got in touch with a couple in Queensland who have a boy with the same syndrome.

"He is four and a half, and he has only just started walking."

T'Keyahs head is out of proportion to the rest of her body from the condition and all her clothes have to be put on over her feet.

"She can only lay on her side, so her head is always twisted."

Ms Kilpatrick said a fundraising evening for the family would be held later this year at Woy Woy Leagues Club.

She said that she was seeking any performers who might provide entertainment for the fundraiser who can donate their time.

She said she was hoping local businesses may be able to support the fundraiser with sponsorship, items to be auctioned and the printing of posters to advertise the event.

An MC was needed for the night of the auction.

Ms Kilpatrick was seeking out celebrities who may be able to autograph a piece of memorabilia to be auctioned on the night and any organisation or individuals who may like to donate a prize to be auctioned on the night.

She said she would also be investigating setting up a trust fund for donations.

Ms Kilpatrick became involved with the family as their real estate agent.

"I feel very strongly about the need of acceptance within the community and support towards the families of those who experience brain related injuries or birth conditions - not just financial but emotional too," she said.

"There are quite a lot of people walking around in society who have shunts and people would be none the wiser - one of them being my brother who had a cerebral haemorrhage two years ago and is aged 37.

"T'keyah looks more or less like any other cute little baby except she is quite small and her head is longer and slightly narrow."

Anyone wishing to give support can contact Ms Kilpatrick on 0410 293 175.

Alison Branley, April 13