Bunbury family thanks community after $14,000 raised for 4yo daughter’s medical costs after home destroyed

A Bunbury family whose four-year-old daughter is dealing with debilitating seizures and memory loss are still living with friends, unable to return to their home after it was destroyed in Friday’s tornado. Alan and Tia Bondarczuk’s unit in Withers was destroyed in the freak weather event, but the family was fortunate to have survived the storm unscathed. There is a glimmer of hope for the family, with generous people donating more than $14,000 to help cover daughter Gracie’s medical bills and travel costs not covered by Medicare. Ms Bondarczuk expressed her gratitude at the community’s generosity. “We are so thankful to those who have donated,” she said. “It means the world to us. I am really grateful.” The family are now waiting for a rental property after the family of five’s second-storey unit was among those severely damaged when the freak storm cut a swathe through Bunbury. More than five days later, they are still waiting for more information from authorities about when they may be able to get back into their home. “Three minutes before the tornado hit, we were in the carpark, we got in our cars parked right under where a massive tree fell,” Ms Bondarczuk said. “When we got back everyone was panicking because they saw us get into the cars, they thought we were trapped under the tree and they didn’t know what they would find.” Adding to their distress, looters struck on Friday and Saturday nights, taking the rest of their household items not already damaged by the storm. “What little was left has now been stolen – it’s disgusting,” Mr Bondarczuk said. Despite being left homeless, the couple are most worried about Gracie. She has been having grand mal seizures since collapsing in February, which are causing memory loss and confusion that is affecting every aspect of her life – including not recognising her parents and forgetting how to walk or feed herself. “That’s the hardest part as a mum, feeling like you’re losing your daughter every day,” Ms Bondarczuk, a former ambulance volunteer, said. “I have to go in and introduce myself to her every morning.” Despite being on a priority waitlist for specialist medical help at Perth Children’s Hospital, Ms Bondarczuk has been told it will be months before Gracie is likely to be seen. In the meantime, the family is paying for private medical assessments and scans costing as much as $1100 for one test. “I just want to get her help, but it feels like no one is listening and everything just costs so much,” Ms Bondarczuk said. “I’ve just had enough of not being able to choose my daughter over paying rent and rego for my car, so that we have somewhere to live and a car to get to medical appointments.” The family started a GoFundMe campaign to help with Gracie’s medical costs, which had raised $14,520 by 1.30pm on Wednesday. “This is something we have kept to ourselves. We have been trying to work through it as a family, but due to the circumstances, it has become extremely overwhelming and difficult,” Ms Bondarczuk said. To donate, search for “Please donate to help Gracie” on gofundme.com.