Vol. No. Vol. 2518No. 2927
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Wednesday, 2016 Wednesday, January February13, 1, 2023
SUPPORT: Larson Versteegan with dad, Chris Versteegan, right, and family friend Loucas Vettos, who is organising fundraising efforts for Larson’s family ahead of a possible bone marrow transplant to combat the two-year-old’s condition, severe congenital neutropenia. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Lots of love for Larson T
BY ABBY WALTER
here is ‘no day but today’. That is how two-year-old Larson Versteegan lives his life after being diagnosed with severe congenital neutropenia.
The diagnosis means Larson does not produce neutrophils in his bone marrow to fight bacteria. Larson’s mum, Erin Boutcher and dad, Chris Versteegan named Larson after the musical ‘Rent’ composed and written by Jonathan Larson. Jonathon Larson’s motto in life was ‘no day but today’ and a feature song of the musical contains the lyrics ‘measure in love’. “No day but today is how our little
boy lives his life,” Miss Boutcher said. “He is remarkable considering what he has been through.” Horsham locals created a GoFundMe account, ‘Measure in Love for Larson’ to assist the family and bone marrow research. This has evolved into a ‘Pop-up Piano Bar’ to raise money for Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision – the only Australian charity that includes severe congenital neutropenia. Miss Boutcher said there was no cure for Larson’s condition. “Any time he gets an infection or a fever, he is on IV antibiotics,” she said. “There is a drug called GCSF that he
didn’t respond to, so the only ultimate cure is a bone marrow transplant. “He was meant to be having a transplant soon, but it has been put on hold, for now, which is a good thing because his doctors will do some further investigation. “There’s a one-in-a-million chance of having this condition and Larson is rarer because there is no genetic link that appears to have caused it.” Family friend Loucas Vettos, known to Larson as Uncle Luca, is co-ordinating the pop-up piano bar and fundraising efforts. “We had to do something to show our support,” he said. “We started a GoFundMe for Erin, Chris and Larson because of the time-
line for the transplant that was originally given. They were expected to be away from home for a long time. “Everyone has been so responsive and really giving, which has been amazing. “Money raised from the pop-up piano bar was originally going to Erin and Chris, but they have decided the community has been so great they want to give back to someone or something to pass it forward. “Neutropenia is extremely underfunded and under-researched, so while the GoFundMe is brilliant and hitting the mark for what they need for their time in Melbourne when Larson needs a transplant, they’re giving back to Maddie’s Vision.”
Miss Boutcher said the family had been overwhelmed by the community’s support. “There’s been amazing response for our little boy and we are so grateful – Horsham is a really wonderful town,” she said. “Research is key for Larson now and that is what Maddie’s Vision supports, so we wanted to dedicate the event to that. Funds go towards research and making bone marrow transplants safer, because they are life-threatening. “It’s not what people think. A bone marrow transplant means chemotherapy and also medication for the rest of your life.” Continued page 5
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