At the age of only 37, Canberra man Dan Tye was diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 colorectal cancer. He and his wife Lauren received the diagnosis when their baby daughter Ava was only six months old.<\/p>\n
Now, they are asking the public to support Mr Tye in his fight against cancer by helping to raise much-needed funds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe funds would be used to support Dan, to alleviate any financial stress that we\u2019re facing at the moment, and hopefully for Dan to have as much time to spend with Ava as possible,\u201d Mrs Tye said.<\/p>\n
Sisters-in-law Caitlin and Sian Thomas launched an online fundraiser to help the young family with medical expenses, travel, and the financial impact of time away from work.<\/p>\n
Mrs Tye is on maternity leave, while the family does not know whether Mr Tye will return to work, nor what the long-term treatment plan will be.<\/p>\n
\u201cDan is a loving husband and a wonderful dad to Ava,\u201d Caitlin and Sian said. \u201cHe absolutely adores her, and the bond they share is so special. With Lauren currently on maternity leave, they should be enjoying this precious chapter together as a young family. Instead, they are facing specialist appointments, treatments, surgeries, and everything that comes with Dan\u2019s diagnosis, while doing all they can to cherish every moment with their beautiful daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Tye underwent surgery last month, and will begin chemotherapy in a few weeks.<\/p>\n
The family had not suspected such a serious diagnosis \u2013 there was no family history of bowel cancer.<\/p>\n
At first, Mrs Tye said, they explained away Dan\u2019s symptoms, including severe fatigue, \u201cin terms of work-related stress or having the newborn baby that we were adjusting to\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn young people, the symptoms don\u2019t present like they do in older people; often the symptoms are missed by both the person and the medical staff,\u201d Sian said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDan was diagnosed with a more minor medical condition initially, which he was receiving treatment for. They found the bowel cancer after he had a minor operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The fundraiser has so far raised about $38,800.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery donation, no matter how big or small, will help ease some of the financial pressure while Dan is going through treatment \u2026 allowing Dan and Lauren to focus on what matters most: being together as a family and supporting Dan through the road ahead,\u201d Caitlin and Sian said.<\/p>\n