The story of Griffiths nine-year-old Sophie Rasos battle with cancer touched many lives and hearts in the early 2000s, and she was called the symbol of hope after her remission.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However after living free alongside her supportive family and friends for an unprecedented 18 years, the insidious disease has returned bigger and more aggressive.
After MRI scans earlier in the year showed the cancers vengeful return, the Raso family have once again turned to the alternative radio-wave treatment responsible for her recovery all those years ago.
The catch: This radio-wave treatment, previously available in Perth, is no longer available in Australia.
Conventional treatments when she was a child left her with lasting side effects and debilitating health problems such as hearing and hair loss, a limp and unbalanced gait, with the recent onset of seizures.
While Sophie was receiving treatment for these seizures earlier this year at Westmead hospital, concern was raised over the loss of strength in her arms and hands, and the MRI scans as a result showed the tumours on her spine.
With no government funding for radiation treatment in Australia and the retirement of Dr Holt from the Perth Clinic, Sophie and her mother Louisa traveled to Germany in the hopes of prolonging her life.
Money can be gotten back and made you cant do that with a life, Louisa said.
The only option offered to her here was palliative care at Westmead Hospital in Sydney.
For Louisa, sitting back wasnt an option, saying she has and will go to the ends of the earth to help my child.
Their trip to Germany saw the tumours not only stop progress, but in fact start to shrink.
The life-saving trip cost in the ballpark of $90,000, with the Griffith and wider community contributing to help ease the strain.
We wish to sincerely thank everyone for their support, especially those who gave it before the first trip to Germany we werent expecting such results and to help us in the unknown is phenomenal, Louisa said.
Its so heartwarming everyone cares so much, its incredibly special, Sophie said.
The family also wish to thank Griffith CanAssist and Olga Forner for all of their much-appreciated help.
Head to https://au.gofundme.com/ckudpv-sophias-cancer-treatment to help.
