Four-Year-Old Melbourne Boy Loses His Remaining Eye To Retinoblastoma

Sam Valavanis, from Patterson Lakes in Victoria, is undergoing surgery today to remove his remaining eye after a long battle with retinoblastoma.

I feel a connection with Sam and his family because it was his Mum, Lisa, who contacted me to help them with their fund-raising event in April this year. Lisa had read my book and wanted a copy donated for either raffling or auctioning to raise money for the ‘Beyond Sight’ group.

Lisa told me about the long and emotionally-draining battle they had all had over the past four years to try and save Sam’s sight. Sam has had numerous treatments. In Australia, Melbourne is probably the best place to be in terms of treatment options for retinoblastoma. As I read about Sam’s ordeals, my heart went out to his parents and the suffering they were going through. Lisa knew this day was coming, the one where Sam would have his eye removed, and so set out to make Sam’s last visual days memorable for him.

In this news story there is a picture of Sam on Puffing Billy, his last visual adventure before going into hospital.

I can just feel Sam’s parents agony on this day. It is undoubtedly a parents’ nightmare, but one they have no control over. Although I know that living without sight is not as bad as it sounds, if I were in their situation, I would feel the same for my child.

So today, my thoughts are with this brave little boy and his family.

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