A Perth family has been plunged into an unimaginable nightmare after a father and his teenage daughter were both diagnosed with aggressive cancers within the same devastating week.
A Week of Unthinkable News
For the Turner family from the northern suburbs of Perth, March 2024 will forever be marked by tragedy. It began when 13-year-old Maddie Turner started experiencing severe pain in her hip. Initially dismissed as a potential sporting injury, the pain persisted, leading to a series of medical investigations.
The results were shattering. Maddie was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. The vibrant Year 8 student, described as a keen dancer and netballer, immediately began an intense treatment regimen at Perth Children's Hospital, which will include chemotherapy and major surgery.
As the family reeled from this blow, another was about to fall. Just days after Maddie's diagnosis, her father, 48-year-old Mick Turner, received his own catastrophic news. He was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, an incurable and highly aggressive brain tumour.
A Family's Fight on Two Fronts
The dual diagnosis has created a logistical and emotional crisis for the family. Maddie's mother, Kylie Turner, now faces the heart-wrenching task of splitting her time and strength between two critically ill loved ones in separate hospitals.
Mick is undergoing treatment at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, while Maddie fights her battle across town. The family's life has been completely upended, with medical appointments, debilitating treatments, and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty now defining their days.
The financial strain is immense and growing rapidly. With Mick unable to work and Kylie needing to be a full-time carer, the family's income has evaporated while medical and living expenses soar.
Community Rallies Around the Turners
In the face of this tragedy, the Perth community and the family's network have begun to mobilise support. A close friend of the family, Sarah Joyce, has established a GoFundMe campaign titled 'Mick and Maddie's Cancer Fight' to help alleviate the financial burden.
The fundraiser aims to secure $100,000 to cover medical costs, household bills, and support the family's basic needs during this prolonged crisis. In a powerful show of solidarity, donations began flooding in shortly after the page went live, reflecting the widespread shock and compassion felt by those who know the Turners.
Friends describe Mick as a devoted family man and a hardworking tradesman, and Maddie as a bright, active, and beloved teenager. Their simultaneous battle against two different cancers is a scenario few can comprehend.
The Long Road Ahead
The treatment pathways for both father and daughter are arduous. Maddie faces a challenging protocol of chemotherapy followed by limb-salvaging surgery, with the goal of removing the tumour while preserving her leg. Her prognosis, while serious, is being met with a fighting spirit.
For Mick, the reality is particularly harsh. Glioblastoma has a very poor prognosis, and treatment is focused on extending life and managing symptoms. The family is clinging to hope and the support of world-class medical teams in Perth.
This story highlights the brutal, unpredictable nature of cancer and its capacity to strike anyone, at any time, doubling its cruelty on one family. The Turner's journey is a stark reminder of the importance of community, the critical role of fundraising support for families in medical crisis, and the incredible resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable heartbreak.
