Appeal will help Georgia
LIFE isn't easy for the family of Georgia Molan of Alstonville.
The 11-year-old has a brain injury which occurred after a cardiac arrest triggered by an epileptic fit when she was just six weeks old.
Georgia has no mobility and needs intensive care at home for every aspect of her life, including feeding and toileting, and she needs to be turned through the night, at least twice.
She has had five flights in emergency helicopters to Brisbane, and has required resuscitation.
Dad David Molan said the care Georgia requires has placed a "great strain" on himself and partner, Simone Bewg.
Simone has maintained a full-time job, while David works part-time at Coles, Alstonville, so he is available for Georgia.
Annual leave and sick days are taken to look after Georgia rather than having a holiday.
There is one thing the family now needs to help them in their day-to-day life, and that's a new wheelchair-accessible car.
"As a young family with an older child (a 20-year-old son with Type 1 diabetes), we have found it difficult to maintain a normal functioning life in regards to being able to move Georgia around," David said.
"As a young child, we were able to transport Georgia in our normal vehicle and we have been able to utilise wheelchair-access taxi services."
But now Georgia has grown, it has become increasingly difficult to lift her into the family station wagon - which also needs to hold the wheelchair, too.
The family has clocked up around 250,000km in the past 10 years, driving Georgia to specialist appointments in Brisbane and Coffs Harbour.
David has estimated the cost of a new vehicle would be $80,000 to $90,000, or a second-hand vehicle would be about $40,000.
The Ballina Scope Club has launched its Wheels for Georgia Fund, which will be kick-started with a champagne breakfast at the Ballina RSL Bowling Club, Canal Rd, on February 17, starting at 8.30am.
Tickets cost $20.
Phone Glenys on 0407 482309 or Marilyn on 6687 6766 for bookings.
Other service clubs are planning events, too.
David thanked his employer, Coles, for being supportive of his family's plight. Coles, Alstonville, held a fundraising trivia night last year and raised $3800 for the family.
