Dainere's Rainbow Brain Tumour Research Fund

Help Us Give Brain Cancer A Scare By Making A Donation From Now Until The End Of June 2018

When people hear the word “scary” or “spooky” they may first think of monsters, clowns, maybe even sharks. Or perhaps one’s mind would go to what they fear; a fear of the dark, a fear of heights, a fear of small spaces or a fear of spiders. All these things I have mentioned and more are indeed things which can easily scare people. Yet people seem to so easily overlook something so vicious and cruel in this world which is truly terrifying.

Imagine you are a child again. Now imagine persistent vomiting of a morning, poor balance and co-ordination, unexplained weight loss or gain and abnormal eye movements and blurred or double vision have all become a part of your every day. Imagine getting told by a doctor that these are all some of the symptoms of a brain tumour and that you do in fact have a brain tumour. Imagine going through long surgeries and endless chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments which give you both short and long-term side effects and not to forget the never-ending blood transfusions and tests.  Imagine after all these treatments and procedures still being told you will not survive and that your brain tumour will be taking your life seemingly before it has even begun.

If you are like me, it is impossible to even begin to imagine what that is like. Through the 4 years Dainere battled with her brain tumour, I watched her in awe as she went through every day, no matter how bad she was feeling, with such courage, strength and always a smile on her face.

Brain tumours are the most common form of solid tumours amongst children. Brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease. The survival rates for brain cancer are low and have hardly changed in over 30 years. This is what is truly terrifying. I don’t think anybody could not fear the facts of childhood brain tumours. But I am not saying all this to scare you, I am here to remind everyone how important it is to raise awareness and funds for Paediatric Brain Tumours.

So, if brain cancer likes to scare us, why can’t we give it a scare back for once?!  Our annual Gala Dinner to be held on 16th June is aimed at doing just this.  It would be truly Spooktacular if you would like to make a donation from now until the end of June to 'give brain cancer a scare'

Dainere's Tumour - Medulloblastoma

A little about the type of brain tumour that Dainere had, hers was catergorised as high risk.

Medulloblastoma (PNET) is the most common brain tumour of childhood, representing about 20% of all paediatric brain tumours. They are most common in children between 4 and 10 and are slightly more common in boys than girls.

These tumours typically arise in the middle of the cerebellum, interfering with the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and causing hydrocephalus. Medulloblastoma is highly malignant and aggressive and can spread to other parts of the brain and spine through the cerebrospinal fluid.

Treatment for Medulloblastoma is usually surgical removal, followed by high doses of radiation of the entire head and spinal cord and high dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue.

Medulloblastoma is classified as low or high risk with signifcantly lower survival rates for high risk patients and a greater chance of a recurrence.

Recurrent Medulloblastoma has long been considered universally fatal. In spite of attempts to improve its treatment, only rarely have long term survivors been documented in the world's medical literature, there is no established treatment for its recurrence.

A donation to Dainere's Rainbow gives hope of improved outcomes for all children diagnosed with this most insidious disease.

The Spirit of Christmas to give hope and create change for children with paediatric brain tumours

Beautiful and inspiring words from Dainere.

"Wouldn't it be splendiferous if the Christmas Spirit was alive in everyone's hearts forever, not just for one day. People would be loving, thoughtful, giving, inclusive, tolerant and joyful all year through. Remember the kindness you show and the good you do for others sparks a light from within and leaves you with a warm glow that makes you feel good in yourself."

 In the lead up to Christmas, a time of love, family, joy, giving and sharing, the thought of another Christmas without our most beloved Dainere is just ever so painful and heartbreaking.

When our most precious, selfless, inspirational and courageous angel Dainere was going through so much pain and knowing she did not have much more time on Earth, she did not feel sorry for herself nor did she want anything for herself.

Instead she chose to want to bring love, joy and Christmas Spirit into the lives and hearts of the Community and raise the so desperately needed awareness and funds to go towards one day finding a cure for the disease she knew would take her young life.

We hope that during this season of compassion, love and giving that we can really make a difference to awareness about paediatric brain tumours as well as raise vital funds to find to give hope, improve outcomes, support crucial research and see a cure so no other families or children have to suffer the excruciating pain of loss from this disease in the future.

To give the Gift of Hope for this number one disease killer of children in Australia is the greatest and most special gift you can ever give.  If you have a little extra change this festive season please consider making a small donation to Dainere's Rainbow, it means more than words can express.

Wishing everyone a Merry and Blessed Christmas and peace, love, hope and joy for 2018.

Dainere's Brain Tumour

A little about the type of brain tumour that Dainere had, hers was catergorised as high risk.

Medulloblastoma (PNET) is the most common brain tumour of childhood, representing about 20% of all paediatric brain tumours. They are most common in children between 4 and 10 and are slightly more common in boys than girls.

These tumours typically arise in the middle of the cerebellum, interfering with the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and causing hydrocephalus. Medulloblastoma is highly malignant and aggressive and can spread to other parts of the brain and spine through the cerebrospinal fluid.

Treatment for Medulloblastoma is usually surgical removal, followed by high doses of radiation of the entire head and spinal cord and high dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue.

Medulloblastoma is classified as low or high risk with lower survival rates for high risk patients and a greater chance of a recurrence.

Recurrent Medulloblastoma has long been considered universally fatal. In spite of attempts to improve its treatment, only rarely have long term survivors been documented in the world's medical literature, there is no established treatment for its recurrence.

A donation to Dainere's Rainbow gives hope of improved outcomes for all children diagnosed with this most insidious disease.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

About Dainere

Dainere Monique Anthoney was born on the 8th February 1998 a happy, healthy baby. Then her world was turned upside down in 2009 when she was diagnosed with High Risk Medulloblastoma, she endured a ten hour surgery, high dose radiation and high dose chemotherapy with autogluous stem cell transplants. Then in February 2012, she suffered an inoperable and incurable recurrence of the disease in her spine, with palliative care being the only treatment available and tragically on 24th June 2013 she had her precious young life stolen by this horrific disease.

Dainere was the most courageous, selfless and inspiring young person you could ever meet, she worked passionately and tirelessly during her short life to advocate for and to elevate significant awareness and funds for research for paediatric brain tumours. Her greatest wish in life was that no children in the future would have to suffer as she did and that one day a cure for this horrendous disease will be found.

Dainere’s Rainbow Brain Tumour Research Fund maintains a lifetime commitment to helping eradicate this number one cancer cause of death in children. We are dedicated to raising significant awareness of paediatric brain tumours and raising money to fund crucial brain tumour research at Sydney Children's Hospital Kids Cancer Centre in memory of and as a legacy to our most beloved daughter and sister, Dainere and hopefully seeing her greatest wish in life become a reality.