Fourteen years ago Kelly Foran was eight months pregnant, excited about the arrival of her first baby.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After experiencing a few hiccups throughout the pregnancy, she became sick and was diagnosed with a “huge” brain tumor.
The next few years was a roller coaster ride for the Foran family, but the experience led to the establishment of Friendly Faces Helping Hands Foundation.
After the shocking diagnosis, the family spent two and a half months in a Sydney hospital.
Kelly and her husband welcomed their newborn, a 12.5 pound baby, the biggest doctors in Sydney had ever delivered.
He had a series of health issues that had never been seen before in a baby. During that time, Kelly ended up an insulin diabetic because of the medication.
“Then I had 16 hours of surgery and had a stroke, then suffered with meningitis. So I was 28 on a walker, with a shower aid and no independence,” she said.
Just twelve months after Kelly’s diagnosis, the family found out their little boy had cancer and were sent to Brisbane hospital.
Countless trips to and from the country to the city for medical appointments led to spending thousands on accommodation and day to day living expenses.
“Each time we found people would tell us about these amazing services or money saving things once we came home.
“People would say ‘why didn’t you do this, or use this service’ and we weren’t in a position to even look; we were too focused on surviving.”
Kelly said the family knew how it felt to feel alone, and abandoned just as they did when going through their tough time.
“All we wanted was someone to say ‘hey, can I help?’ or ‘there’s a cheaper parking spot here’. So we put together a one-stop-shop for all the amazing services available,” she said.
What was only supposed to be a website turned into a 24-7 hotline and an Australian-wide foundation that has helped 70,000 people.