Tara Murray
Jacob Koutsodimitropoulos loves candy and dreams of a Willy Wonka-type adventure. His twin brother Marcus dreams of meeting and swimming with seals.
For the West Sunshine six-year-olds, those dreams just might become a reality because of the Make-a-Wish foundation.
The foundation has supported the family in recent years, after both boys went through separate cancer battles.
Jacob was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour, a rare kidney cancer in 2019. His port was finally removed after 30 weeks of chemotherapy.
Just a couple of months later, Marcus was diagnosed with the same cancer. Both are now in remission.
The family has since had genetic testing done, which found Jacob and Marcus had a gene which caused the cancer.
No one else in the family has the gene.
Their mum Joanne said Make-a-Wish, had helped the boys look towards the future.
They were meant to have granted their wishes last year, but that was put back due to COVID-19.
“It’s amazing the things that Make-a-Wish is giving us,” she said. “There was a time we thought we were cursed.
“Meeting the Bulldogs and then going to the game… just the little special things.
“They are little miracle workers.”
Jacob and Marcus get scans every three months to check whether the cancer has come back. Other than that, Ms Koutsodimitropoulos said the boys were like normal kids.
“They have started to live life,” she said.
“They are happy to be back together and so happy to be normal.”
Coinciding with the 35th anniversary is Make-A-Wish Australia’s ‘100 Wishes in 100 Days’ campaign, which is currently under way.
Due to COVID-19, Make-A-Wish Australia has over 800 wishes in waiting.
Make-A-Wish Australia chief executive Sally Bateman said it is incredible to look back and reflect on what the organisation has achieved with the generous support of the Australian community.
