Hope for Harris Family

Hope for Harris Family

The past four years have been a tough run for the Harris family. Yet they have faced it with bravery, grace, and humility. They don’t ask for anything, but they need our support. This fundraiser is to support them for the tough next few months they need to face.

In 2020 their baby boy Chester Brave was born three months early at the beginning of Covid weighing a tiny 600 grams. This meant three months in the NICU, while only one parent could visit at a time, facing negative prognoses and diagnoses alone. Through this, their steadfast faith and their determination that Chester would make it, came into reality. But not without its challenges. He was on home oxygen for 18 months, until he had surgery to help him breathe again, he also needed surgery to allow his eyes to develop properly.

He certainly lives up to his middle name of “Brave”. Chester is three now, and a beautiful, clever little boy, he is the apple of his parents’ eyes. And they face each day with multiple therapies with Chester receiving a diagnosis of GDD PTSD and early signs of ASD, he also has regular blood tests and hospital visits.

Only three weeks after Chester finally came home, Glenn had a work injury and fell from a tree. He fell 5 metres headfirst, with a branch brushing his leg and turning him at the last minute to land on his back. Another miracle! He has needed several procedures and now needs a full hip replacement surgery. It is expensive and traumatic, and they are fighting the insurance company for fair compensation and to cover the surgery which has escalated to legal proceedings.

Now Erica has been diagnosed with a large bowel tumour. It requires major surgery with a third biopsy post-surgery. Hopefully this will rule out a cancer diagnosis. She will have a long road of recovery afterwards, once recovered Glenn will have his surgery.

Through their trials, their bravery and grace have been nothing short of amazing. They are an inspiring couple who have a heart for helping others. But now they need some help. Please get behind Erica, Glenn and Chester and support them. Any help we can offer will mean the more peaceful and stress-free recovery for their family.

Thank you so much. Your donations and support are so very appreciated! Already from your donations, Erica has been able to have several IV infusions to prepare for surgery, which doctors have recommended. Of these, Erica has now been able to several high-dose vitamin C infusions, which research has shown can shrink tumours. We are fervently praying for this so the surgery next week is less intrusive.

Any words of encouragement are so welcome, and your prayers greatly received. You can also read more of their story which was featured on Mamamia and has been shared to help raise birth trauma awareness by supporting the work done by the Australasian Birth Trauma Association.

In June, Erica was part of a fundraising team with her fellow NICU mamas raising money for Birth Trauma.