Doctors are baffled. Fits all the criteria for "the elephant in the room" in my opinion. Very sad.
Manning Aquatic Centre are holding a fundraiser to support our friend and employee Brenton and his family.
We will be running our new inflatable and asking for donations directly to the GoFund Me page.
Update on Brenton:
On Tuesday 6th February 2024, Brenton had a medical episode at home which left him unable to walk, very lethargic, confused and moody. He spent time in Bathurst Hospital undergoing lots of tests including bloods, CT, X-Ray, MRI and lumbar puncture. Unfortunately, these procedures did not provide a precise diagnosis; however, they revealed the presence of lesions on the brain, with the underlying cause remaining unknown.
On Saturday 17th February, he was transported to RPA Hospital in Sydney where he underwent further testing. Ashleigh, Max (9), Lachlan (
, Ryleigh (2) and Georgia (6 months) have followed him to Sydney to be with him, while Brenton’s eldest daughter Hannah (15) stays in Cowra to focus on her high school studies but still worrying about her dad.
On Thursday 22nd February, after a lot more testing, repeat MRI, and lumbar puncture, Brenton was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive neurological autoimmune disease called Susac’s Syndrome. His immune system is attacking the smallest blood vessels in his brain, ears, and eyes. The cause is unknown, and being so rare, the research is limited. Brenton is suffering severe cognitive impairment, predominantly affecting his memory and balance. He has commenced intensive treatment, which includes chemotherapy to suppress his immune system and immunoglobulin therapy to replenish antibodies, which will continue over the next six months. He will also have IV steroids, antibiotics, and a plethora of other medications. When he is well enough, he will require extensive physiotherapy. How he will respond to these treatments is unknown and very scary.
Since Brenton is the sole income earner for the family, and Ashleigh, not working as she needs to be there for her children, one of which is a baby, the thought of not being able to keep up to date with bills is starting to take its toll. Brenton’s recovery will be very slow, and it’s likely that he will not see any progress for months. He will remain in RPA for the next several months until he is well enough to return home and continue his treatment as an outpatient in Bathurst.
If you could spare a few coins from your pocket to assist with expenses while the dedicated team at RPA cares for Brenton, supporting him return to the fun, happy, outgoing awesome person we all know and love.
