THINGS are looking bright for young Charlie Ciavarella as he bravely battles a rare immunodeficiency disorder.
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The 20-month-old Oxley boy suffers from a potentially fatal condition recorded only about 10 times worldwide.
He has fought the condition after first falling sick in August last year, with much of his short life spent inside various hospitals.
He remains in the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne following chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant on July 30, and things are finally looking positive.
His parents Tony and Merryn hope he will be home by Christmas, just in time for his birthday in early January.
“We’re still in the children’s hospital, but his transplant has gone well,” Mr Ciavarella said.
“There are some problems with the way the donated blood cells interact with him and there is some treatment going on which is trying to sort that out.
“It looks like he might be discharged in three to four weeks.
“The doctors are very happy that the transplant has grafted and has been successful.”
Charlie’s immune system was suppressed before the operation and he remains in isolation to avoid infection.
His immune system essentially needs to be rebuilt.
“He’s basically starting again like a newborn,” Mr Ciavarella said.
“We’re hoping he will be home by Christmas but that depends on how the next few weeks go.
“They can’t give us a date; it’s open-ended depending on how he copes with things.
“It’s just important that he gets healthy and can move beyond this.”
A major fundraising effort involving auctions, donations, and a charity walk, has also proved successful, raising tens of thousands of dollars.
The family has had to live in Melbourne during Charlie’s treatment, putting pressure on the couple’s business, the Ciavarella Oxley Estate.
“The fundraisers have taken the pressure off us,” Mr Ciavarella said.
“It’s been a huge weight off our shoulders and we’ve been very appreciative of the way the community has rallied behind us.
“I’m not getting home for work as much as I wanted to, but you do have to focus on Charlie.
“We’ve always got someone here in hospital with him.”
Mr Ciavarella wants to thank everyone who has supported his family during a difficult time.
“It’s been amazing.”
For more information visit www.helpcharlie.com.au
