For Ethan’s Mum, Lauren, research means having a healthy boy who can live until he is old and grey with a rocking chair on a porch somewhere.
For seven-year-old Ethan, research means fulfilling his dream to grow up and become a policeman.
Ethan was diagnosed with bronchiectasis, a chronic and debilitating lifelong lung disease that experts understand little about. Ethan’s mum Lauren hopes that with more research, new treatments will be found that will help children and adults with this crippling disease to live the best life they can, and that, hopefully, one day we can find a cure.
“Research is everything, because once upon a time, we were told that he had asthma, and we were popped on all types of medication without a proper diagnosis.”
“Without research, I don’t know where we would be today. He might still be misdiagnosed, and he might be a very sick boy, and potentially we could lose him, and that’s the reality of it,” Lauren said.
“Without research, I don’t know where we would be today. He might still be misdiagnosed, and he might be a very sick boy, and potentially we could lose him, and that’s the reality of it,” Lauren said.
The journey to diagnosis and the impact of Ethan’s condition on his day-to-day life takes a huge toll on the family.
“He would wake himself up, several times a night and would often come into our room and say, ‘Mummy I can’t breathe’. Bronchiectasis impacts Ethan’s life but we try to get him involved as much as possible, I would hate for him to sit on the side lines, that’s not what life is all about.
“He’s a beautiful little boy and I want him to run around and enjoy life and just have the best life and we just try and encourage the best way we know how.
“He is the best little brother, big brother and the most beautiful son as well. He’s always there to help and to give kisses and hugs along the way. He can be feisty at times but we encourage that too because it’s good to be himself and to show his true passion of who he wants to be and who he is in life.”
“We just don’t know what is around the corner for our son and we are just one small little fleck in the situation. My hopes and dreams for Ethan are to be healthy and happy, and to live long and to have a beautiful life. Research means I can have a healthy boy and that he can live until he is old and grey with a rocking chair on a porch somewhere.
“As a family, we would be immensely grateful to anyone who can donate to help support research into lung disease.”
Research saves lives and gives hope for a cure.
Give hope. Give to research today.
30 Reasons for Research
In celebration of our 30th anniversary, we are highlighting 30 Reasons to donate to life-changing lung disease and lung cancer research. For the millions of Australians impacted by lung disease and lung cancer, research means more precious moments with loved ones, a chance to experience their next life milestone, and independence to do the day-to-day activities that many of us take for granted.