A helping hand for Hori

$7,990 donated

Given by 92 generous donors in around 3 months

Helping Hori and his whānau through his cancer journey - with love, compassion, and community support #ahelpinghandforhori

Auckland

Whānau photo from left to right: AJ, Lisa, HORI, Justus, Tei-ina, Limitri

Hori Bellass Jnr is 15 years old and was diagnosed on 19 August 2021 with osteosarcoma (bone cancer), the most common malignant bone tumour among children.

This is not an easy journey for Hori. He is angry, frustrated, and scared. In a heartfelt moment with his mum, he said "It's not fair, Mum". When the Doctor asked him what is his biggest fear, he said "Dying". He doesn't want anyone to see him the way he is right now, with all the weight loss and emotional turmoil that he is going through.

This is undoubtedly a harrowing journey for Hori and his whānau.

His chemotherapy started on the 25th August. Covid-19 lockdown restrictions have made it harder for friends and family to be present in their support. This makes the cancer journey even more isolating for Hori and his Mum.

Following 10 weeks of chemotherapy, Hori will undergo an operation to remove the osteosarcoma, followed by more chemotherapy.

Hori's Mum, Lisa, is his sole carer. She has raised her five children on her own. She has given up her part-time job to be by Hori's side. In her words: "I promised I won't leave his side. I know I can't leave his side, because I'm his voice for when he can't talk". Lisa is now solely reliant on the benefit. She also has Hori's two younger siblings to care for and two other older children to support.

This journey comes with a whole lot of challenges for Hori and the whānau, physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially. Their wellbeing is at an all-time low against a backdrop of pre-existing hardship.

They are a humble whānau doing their best to persevere through this on their own. The reality is they need all the support they can get.

Thank you for anything you can do to help, and please reach out via this page if you would like any guidance or additional information. We will endeavour to post regular updates over the course of this fundraiser.

#ahelpinghandforhori

Shelley Turner's involvement (page creator)

Family friend

Use of funds

Items that will help Hori Jnr's personal wellbeing, and extra support to relieve the whānau of some general living costs and ongoing travel to Starship Hospital.

Latest update

Hori's chemotherapy timetable - first 40 days 4 September 2021

This update is to inform you of Hori's chemotherapy timetable for the month ahead.

We've all become familiar with the term chemotherapy because Cancer has permeated society for decades. It is a health issue from which we are never too far removed.

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. It usually works by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. Because cancer cells usually grow and divide faster than normal cells, chemotherapy has more of an effect on cancer cells. However, the drugs used for chemotherapy are powerful, and they can still cause damage to healthy cells. This damage causes the side effects that are linked with chemotherapy (fatigue, pain, mouth and throat sores, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, constipation, blood disorders).

Hori is experiencing most of these side effects and two days ago was told that he has mucositis - damage to the cells inside the mouth and throat, which causes painful sores in these areas. So in addition to the chemotherapy drugs, he is on morphine for pain management.

The drugs that are used as part of the chemotherapy treatment are -

Dexrazoxane - to protect the heart

Doxorubicin - slows or stops the growth of cancer cells by blocking an enzyme called topo isomerase 2 (which cancer cells need to divide and grow)

Cisplatin - used to treat a number of different cancers, usually in combination with other chemotherapy drugs

Cotrimoxazole - an antibiotic used to treat certain bacterial infections

Methotrexate - helps stop making and repairing DNA, which cancer cells need to do to grow and multiply

Pegfilgrastim - used to stimulate the growth of "healthy" white blood cells in bone marrow, once chemotherapy is given. White blood cells help the body fight infection.

CHEMOTHERAPY TIMETABLE

25 Aug Day 1 (Dexrazoxane, Doxorubicin, Cisplatin)

26 Aug Day 2 (Dexrazoxane, Doxorubicin, Cisplatin)

15 Sep Day 22 (Methotrexate chemo - 4 hours)

22 Sep Day 29 (Methotrexate chemo - 4 hours)

29 Sep Day 36 (Dexrazoxane, Doxorubicin, Cisplatin)

30 Sep Day 37 (Dexrazoxane, Doxorubicin, Cisplatin)

Antibiotics (Cotrimoxazole) every Saturday and Sunday, morning and evening

Blood tests - 8th, 15th, 21st, 28th, 27th September

This is just the start of Hori's fight for life. He will have to go through this for at least the next three months. No parent wants this for their child.

Please lock in these dates and spare a thought for what Hori is going through. If you want to do something extra for him, you can send gifts to Hori Bellass at Starship Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023 or mail to Starship Children's Health, Private Bag 92024, Auckland 1142.

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