Aidan Brown is fighting a cancer suffered by only one in two million kids
NINE-YEAR-OLD old Aidan Brown is a one-in-two-million kid, fighting a cancer so rare most oncologists will never see it in their lifetime.
The rarity of his disease, adrenal cell carcinoma, means it’s hard to treat and after seven months of aggressive chemotherapy Aidan’s cancer has stabilised but not gone into remission.
As doctors consider what to do next Aidan’s local community has established Aidan’s Quest, a campaign to raise $30,000 in 30 days.
The family’s supporters are hoping the money will be used to help the Brown family spend time with Aidan and fund any new treatments that he needs.
The Sydney third-grader had a tumour the size of a grapefruit removed from his stomach in an eight-hour operation in April but the cancer had spread to both lungs, his spine and lymph nodes.
He has endured eight rounds of debilitating chemotherapy that has now come to an end.
The treatment, a cocktail of four chemotherapy drugs, was so powerful it left Aidan with heart problems, kidney problems, he lost his high frequency hearing and lost 30 per cent of his body weight.
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Aidan’s parents Robert and Dawn have been active volunteers at Annandale North Public School, Balmain Little Athletics, and Balmain Football and Cricket Clubs
“The family have given a lot to the community and we feel it’s only fair to give something back,” fund organiser Natasha Dimitropoulos said.
Before Aidan was diagnosed with cancer in April “sport was his world” and he played cricket and soccer and futsal, was an excellent swimmer and he won ribbons for running 400 metres says his mother Dawn.
“We are at the point where we’re hoping Aidan’s age won’t limit him from modern treatments that are out there — immune therapy drugs, proton radiotherapy,” Mrs Brown said.
“He’s like a case study of his own, we do want to be able to think outside the box for the care he needs.”
If a treatment he needs is not available in Australia his family is prepared to “go overseas in a heartbeat”.
“Aidan has been so amazing through this. He’s in a difficult place, he’s not an adult and not a baby,” his mother said.
“It opens up all the questions in life, it’s the rawest of emotions you go through.
“I just hope he is the one in two million that’s going to show everybody.”
To raise the money the school has organised a movie night and mufti day and a breakfast.
“The Browns’ life has been turned upside down by Aidan’s illness,” Ms Dimitropoulos said.
Either Rob or Dawn has been with Aidan at all times — including during lengthy stays in hospital — while trying to keep life as normal as possible for his eight-year old brother Riley. All of this has meant the family’s income is a quarter of what it was a year ago.