Update: $200,000 raised for seriously ill girl

Online campaign raises $200,000 for seriously ill NSW girl to fly home.

A father says he is overwhelmed at the outpouring of support to help fly his seriously ill NSW daughter home.

Phelicity Sneesby, 13, from Ballina on the NSW north coast, has a congenital heart defect and has been in intensive care in the US state of Ohio for two months. She originally travelled to the US for lifesaving treatment. Against all hopes, her treatment is unsuccessful. As we reported previously, it is Phelicity’s greatest wish to come home again, rather than spend her time in hospital.

Last Tuesday, family friend Megan Latham launched an online campaign with the goal to raise money for the special medical flight home that Phelicity requires. The fund has now raised more than $200,000.

Phelicity’s father, Ben Sneesby, said his family is overwhelmed with happiness at the support they have received.

“It’s been incredible,” he told ABC news, “It’s so hard to believe that people who have never met us are able to show how much love they have.

“Phelicity has always had great faith, and the family we have as well, and we’ve prayed so many times that we’re able to get her home.

“It really feels like all of our prayers are being answered.”

Ben said his daughter had a ticket for a commercial flight home that she was unable to use after complications from surgery in Ohio, where she has traveled for the 28 surgeries she has had in her short life.

“It just didn’t work out the way everyone had hoped and planned,” he said. “She’s not able to travel commercially now, like she did 10 weeks ago when she went over to America.”

Phelicty has to be with a medical team in a specialised hospital bed to be able to travel home. All this comes at a high price.

Mr Sneesby said his daughter simply wanted to come home.

“She’s extremely excited,” he said. “Now that she knows there’s a possibility it’s going to happen soon, it’s making her feel so much better.

“It’s allowing her to mentally have a bit of comfort, knowing that she’ll be able to come home and see her sisters, see her house and her friends.”

18 Comments

- - mom103920 said
  - 28 Feb 2016
    2:04 pm
It will be a tremendous relief for Phelicity to be back home with her family and friends. I wish her all the happiness in the time she has.

- - Some_Toss said
  - 15 Feb 2016
    5:21 pm
My heart breaks for this poor family. I wish there were something I could do to help. 🙁 Thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.

- - mom91861 said
  - 06 Feb 2016
    10:08 am
We Australians have good hearts as shown by this story. It is good to hear & read about the generosity of Australians which we need to hear about more often than the senseless violence we hear so much about. If we all heard feel good storing instead of violence maybe good good new stories would happen as people change their views & attitudes.
- mom94125 replied
  
  28 Feb 2016 , 1:03 pm
  i agree that aussies can have big hearts and it shows, in times like this.
- - mom94125 said
  - 05 Feb 2016
    4:56 pm
this would be such a sad situation for them. very hard. is there still hope for this brave young one? i wish that medical people were able to cure her and many others, in her shoes.

- - tessie said
  - 02 Feb 2016
    10:55 am
People’s generosity knows no bounds. I’m glad that she will finally be able to come back home to her family and friends.

- - mom74640 said
  - 02 Feb 2016
    10:24 am
Lke it

- - ella12 said
  - 02 Feb 2016
    9:52 am
That is such wonderful news, thanks for sharing.

- - mum4107 said
  - 02 Feb 2016
    5:19 am
That is fantastic. People’s generosity is amazing.

- - meedee said
  - 01 Feb 2016
    11:26 pm
This is so wonderful.
Sometimes us humans are really beautiful creatures.
- mom93821 replied
  
  02 Feb 2016 , 6:59 am
  Human beings have the capacity to be so good.
- - mossysmum said
  - 01 Feb 2016
    8:35 pm
This brought tears to my eyes.. we hear so much of children and adults going overseas for life saving treatment but you rarely hear of those who were unsuccessful. Bless you young child xx
- june11 replied
  
  07 Feb 2016 , 11:41 pm
  I know of a guy whose friends donated money to help him to go overseas for cancer treatment that isn’t available in Aust. He had the treatment and returned to Aust. Sadly it wasn’t successful and he died a few weeks later.
- - rachelvk said
  - 01 Feb 2016
    8:16 pm
It still amazes me how so many strangers can come together for a cause like this and make such a financial impact. Hoping little Phelicity gets home soon!

- - mom93821 said
  - 01 Feb 2016
    7:52 pm
People can be some incredibly generous and community minded.

- - welshmummy said
  - 01 Feb 2016
    5:12 pm
Poor little darling. Must have been so hard for her and her family. So please she can come home safely.

- - mom165081 said
  - 01 Feb 2016
    3:46 pm
Glad to read they got was they wanted. Lets hope they donate all money over the requested $150,000 to medical charities to support other critically ill children.

- - mom90758 said
  - 01 Feb 2016
    3:44 pm
I’m very sad to hear her treatment didn’t function.
It’s great how the community responded to the online campaign though. It’s fantastic that Phelicity can come back home. Sweet little one. 🙂