29yo Israel & 5yoShyvana - fight to beat Muscular Dystrophy

Israel O’Dea, is a 29 year solo Dad who volunteers as a project coordinator for a community project in a high-risk community providing youth mentoring and healthy living programmes. He’s also a cancer survivor. His medical condition over the years after surviving cancer, has not been kind and now he has just been diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy. Israel has been suffering from the muscles in his neck, shoulders, arms and back weakening for the last 10 years. This was assumed to be a result of the cancerous tumor crushing the nerves between his skull and spine, but was never investigated. Israel requires ongoing massage therapy in order to effectively combat the pain and discomfort of his wasting body so he can continue to raise his daughter.

His beautiful daughter, Shyvana O’Dea was born 5yrs ago, it was soon realised she would be burdened with her own set of medical issues. It began with moderate to severe hearing loss and she eventually required hearing aids for those critical developmental stages in her growth. As Shyvana grew it was noted that she was unable to smile or make use of the muscles in her face. Shyvana’s now presenting with the same muscular dystrophy as her father.

The life-long genetic disease for both Israel and Shyvana is of a severe nature. Israel is losing the ability to walk and will require a wheelchair in the not too distant future. Shyvana requires hearing aids, seeing glasses, ongoing speech language therapy and development assistance due to her speech impediment. She’s about to start school, whilst undergoing extensive intrusive testing to positively confirm the medical teams suspicions.

This Father and daughter team have endured so much already in their short lives, They’ve exhausted all their own funds and now require help to cover the costs of their alternative treatment for the next 6mths. This treatment is showing huge promise in the prevention of further wasting of muscles, but like all treatments this is a costly endeavour. This little family need the help and support of the wider community to help them keep their heads above water whilst Israel and Shyvana are being treated. In ending they both thank you from the bottom of their hearts for your kindness and generosity it is greatly appreciated.