Friends rally to support mum of two with brain tumour, attempt to raise $50,000 for treatment
SINGLE mum Eleanor Harris is living on borrowed time with a brain tumour, while her friends desperately try to raise $50,000 for her treatment and the support of her two young children.
Ms Harris, of Mulberry Court, Cranbourne, has gliomatosis cerebri, a rare tumour that has robbed the 30-year-old gym enthusiast of an active life with her family.
“I was a real gym junkie until this came along,” Ms Harris said. “Now I can’t even drive my car to The Alfred for treatment. But on the other hand I’m lucky in having a great friend in Carolyn (Hyatt) who drives me to and from home for treatment each day.”
Diagnosed about five weeks ago, Ms Harris said she first realised something was wrong when she started having severe headaches and dropping things at work.
“I was a waitress and I started spilling drinks and dropping food. My arms often went numb without warning and I had trouble picking things up,” she said.
“My doctor sent me for a CAT scan at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton. Monash did the scan and sent me straight back to my GP.
“He arranged for me to be admitted to hospital immediately for a range of tests.”
Ms Harris went through MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) testing and lumbar punctures, in the belief she might have multiple sclerosis.
“They all proved negative, but a biopsy a week later nailed it as a tumour,” she said.
“My radiologist told me I had an extremely aggressive and rare form of it and the likely survival time was 12 to 18 months. I’m undergoing chemo and radiation five days a week at The Alfred to extend my life as far as I can.”
Ms Hyatt said her friend’s main worry was for her children, Destiny, 11 and Tyreece, 10.
“Eleanor lives for the children. She has no superannuation and she fears for their futures after she is gone,” Ms Hyatt said.
Friends are organising a dinner and other fundraisers to help.
Click HERE to make a donation and help Eleanor out.