Charlie Redding plays at home with dad Paul. Picture: Meagan Rogers.By Paul Dunlop
PEOPLE have been urged to say a prayer for Charlie Redding as the brave twoyearold faces the biggest test of his short life.
Charlie today (Wednesday) undergoes surgery in a bid to rid his body of cancer.
The Garfield boy has captured the hearts of the community after he was diagnosed earlier this year with Hepatoblastoma, a rare cancerous tumour that originates in the liver.
Family, friends and doctors are keeping fingers crossed Charlie’s operation to remove the tumour will be a success.
Parents Ally and Paul Redding are anxiously awaiting what will be some of the longest hours of their lives.
“I expect we’ll be there with him when he has his anaesthetic then we’ll kiss him goodbye and do probably the hardest thing we’ve ever done and walk out and wait,” Mrs Redding said.
For the past several weeks, Charlie has been receiving a series of chemotherapy treatments to reduce the size of the tumour.
The Reddings met their surgeon last week and Charlie had a final bout of chemotherapy on Monday before he was admitted to Royal Children’s Hospital yesterday.
Mrs Redding said ultrasounds had shown the tumour had shrunk quite considerably.
She said that, without trying to look too far ahead, the family was hoping the surgery would be the breakthrough Charlie needed.
“We’re just trying to take it one step at a time,” Mrs Redding said. “We are on tenterhooks, we’ve got no idea how it will go. We’ve been building up to this for a long time.”
The Reddings, who have two other children Lucy and Max, said they had been overwhelmed by the generosity and support they had received from people in the community.
Caring residents have rallied to support the family, with many coming forward after reading of Charlie’s cancer fight in the PakenhamBerwick Gazette.
“People have come from everywhere, the help and goodwill we have received has just been amazing,” Mrs Redding said.
Residents have made meals, cared for the children, donated groceries and money. Charlie last week received tickets to see his idols the Wiggles with dad Paul.
Maria Doherty of Garfield Berry Farm has helped to coordinate much of the communitybased support for the Reddings.
Paul and Ally were good friends to a lot of people and organisations in the town, she said, but many more simply wanted to help.
“Everybody wants to do something,” she said.
Mrs Redding said her youngest son had been brave throughout his ordeal.
“If everyone sends up a prayer for him at the same time (today) that would be great.”
>>> Residents run for Charlie, page 16.
