WAGGA woman Felicity Fough is desperately seeking support from the community to raise the $40,000 her family needs to fund life-changing brain surgery for her father.
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Well-known Wagga identity Allan Brawley will undergo Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in a bid to reduce the debilitating affects of Parkinson’s Disease.
The 48 year old former Calvary Hospital nurse was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in his early forties, and the condition has progressed rapidly in the past few years.
“He had been ill for a little while before the diagnosis was made,” Felicity said.
“No one could figure out what it was at first, and they thought it might be RSI.
“We were devastated to learn it was Parkinson’s Disease.”
At the time of his diagnosis Allan was a popular nurse at Calvary, who was unwavering in his dedication to his patients.
“He loved nursing and he loved the patients,” Felicity said.
“In the beginning he didn’t tell anyone about the Parkinson’s and he kept working.
“The disease has now developed to a stage where he can’t work anymore.
“All the staff at Calvary have been fantastic with the support they have shown towards him, especially when he got to stage where he could not continue working.”
Felicity revealed staff at Calvary Hospital have thrown their support behind her efforts to raise the funds to help her father receive the DBS.
DBS, which uses advanced surgical techniques to change the way electrical signals flow through the brain, is not a cure a for Parkinson’s Disease but a
powerful treatment for worsening symptoms.
People with Parkinson’s Disease can present with a
variety of symptoms, but the illness is characterised by
shaking and trembling, rigidity and stiffness of the muscles and a slowness of movement.
“DBS is becoming more and more well-known,” Felicity said.
“It doesn’t cure the disease but hopefully it will lessen the symptoms so Dad will not have to take as much medication.
“In many ways the medication can be as bad as the disease.”
Felicity has planned a number of events to help raise the $40,000 out of pocket expense the family will face for her father to undergo the $140,000 surgery.
“We have a raffle and trivia night planned, but we are starting with an event at the Sportsmans Hotel,” she said.
“My dad has to shave his head for the surgery, so myself and another friend are going to shave our heads to raise money and support him.
“We will be shaving our head on Friday at the Sportsmans Hotel.”
To coincide with the pairs brave shave, Felicity has organised a family event to be held from 6.30pm.
For just $10, people will be able to participate in an evening of games and activities, and enjoy delicious snacks and a sausage sizzle.