Layla needs your help
LONEHILL - Layla O'Neill (4) needs the public's help in order to get the treatment she needs for the rare condition she suffers from called Ependymoma.
Ependymoma is characterised by the growth of tumours on the brain and spinal cord.
Raising Hope for Layla is a non-profit organisation set up by Layla’s mother, Sharyn O’Neill, and a host of family friends to raise funds for Layla to receive a treatment called proton therapy which is only available at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Texas.
However due to the size of Layla’s tumours she needs to undergo radiation therapy in South Africa before attempting the flight to Texas.
Belinda Lombard, an O’Neill family friend, explained that Layla did not react well to the radiation at first so her mother had to start sedating her at home before going to the hospital. Layla has another five weeks of radiation left.
Lombard said that due to the radiation Layla also lost most of her hair.
“Layla was finding it very traumatic to see her hair falling out so her mom decided to shave off the rest so that Layla wouldn’t feel scared,” said Lombard.
To support Layla, Sharyn O’Neill and Lombard also shaved their heads.
“I will keep my head shaved until Layla’s hair starts growing back,” Lombard added.
Lombard said that Raising Hope for Layla had raised nearly R40 000 from their recent fundraisers. She said, “The support from the public has been amazing but we do need to raise more funds. We’re struggling to sell tickets to our events and that makes the fundraising a bit difficult. We encourage the public to visit the Raising Hope for Layla Facebook page for details of all our upcoming events.”
The next Raising Hope for Layla event is at the Barnyard Theatre in Rivonia on 6 November.
For tickets contact Izelle Borejszo Miller.
Details: rh4layla.izelle@gmail.com, 083-709-3729
