The local community is rallying behind a Spotswood Football Club member whose life has ground to a halt because of a rare disorder attacking his kidneys.
Maribyrnong College student Marcus Swan, 15, now does limited study in hospital in between dialysis while awaiting a kidney transplant.
At 10, Marcus was diagnosed with Henoch-Schonlein purpura, which causes blood vessels to become inflamed.
In 2014, the family moved to Maidstone and Marcus started playing and running water for seniors and reserves at Spotswood where his mum Fran started working as a senior trainer.
However, this year Marcus’s kidney function markedly declined and he is now undergoing dialysis three days a week and will require a transplant.
“Currently, myself and Marcus’s grandmother are being tested as possible matches for kidney donation,” Ms Swan said. “However, this process can take anywhere between two and 12 months.”
Ms Swan, a single mother of four, is unable to work while caring for Marcus.
“Two months ago, he had 85 per cent kidney function and now he’s got nothing,” she said.
“He’s on the donor list, so I’ve had to stop everything to be with him.”
The community has rallied to support the family by setting up a GoFundMe page to raise $5000.
Spotswood Football Club president Alan Given said it has been heartbreaking for everyone at the club.
“What we identified we could do, was put a fundraiser together to help alleviate some of the financial pressures this has placed on Fran and the family,” Mr Given said.
For more details visit gofundme.com/help-marcus-his-family
