Strangers, families and friends have united to donate $80,000 enabling him to undergo brain surgery under renowned neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo in Sydney, which is his only chance of survival.

Braiden’s parents, Megan Whitwell and Shaun Peters, received the devastating news last week that their son had a terminal brain tumour, and without radiation, he had just weeks to live.

Even with radiation, the prognosis was bleak. 

At most, Braiden would have nine months to live, and due to the nature of the tumour, his quality of life would diminish rapidly.

However, the family were given a glimmer of hope – Dr Teo could operate on Braiden if he was admitted as a private patient.

But to cover the cost of the hospital, specialist team and the anaesthetist, the bill would climb to $80,000.

In desperation, and in a race against time, the family turned first to the Bathurst community through the Western Advocate.

 With the help of the Advocate and the Sydney media, by late yesterday the appeal had reached the $80,000 needed for surgery.

But it wasn’t without issues.

At around 11.30am, just as the page reached $50,000, a technical problem arose and, for more than three hours, the page was unable to accept donations.

But by 2.30pm the issue was resolved and the site was back on track, with the people of Australia once again going online to donate.

At 5pm, the page clicked over $80,000.

Donations have also been made at the Reliance Credit Union in Bathurst, which will be added to the total.

Braiden’s grandfather, David Whitwell, said yesterday the family was completely overwhelmed with the support they received from strangers in their bid to save Braiden’s life.

He said the family don’t know how they will ever be able to thank everyone.

Mr Whitwell, a school bus driver in Bathurst, said after news of Braiden’s fundraiser broke in the Western Advocate, he had been approached by mums on his bus run who wanted to donate money to the fund.

“Yesterday one mother handed me an envelope with a card and money inside, and so did another mum,” he said.

“Today, that same mum handed me another envelope with money in it.”

He said he had the front page of the Western Advocate stuck on the side window of his bus and everyone had been asking him about it and wanting to help out.

“The whole thing has been overwhelming,” he said.

“I had the radio on this morning and they were talking about it, and it brought tears to my eyes. Lucky I was pulling over when it happened.”

“But I just can’t believe we’ve done it.

“We were praying for two miracles – to raise the money and that his surgery goes well.

“The first one has happened.”

David said all Braiden wants to do is come home and be taken for a drive on the school bus.

“I promised him when he comes home, that’s what we will do,” he said.

David and the rest of the family headed back to Westmead yesterday and will remain at the hospital until Monday.

“We just want to spend as much time with him as we can,” his aunt, Amy Whitwell said.

Western Advocate