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  1. #1
    Junior gothabull's Avatar
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    Default brave lukes mums fight

    all the best luke and kane wishing your mum well!



    Tim Gilbert | 09:48am March 15, 2013

    Luke Douglas has opened up about his mother's fight for life. Pic: David Clark
    TRAGEDY, disaster, drama, heartache -- they are all words used liberally to describe moments in sport.

    In fact they are called upon too often. Many other life experiences cut so much deeper.

    When Luke Douglas runs out for the Gold Coast on Sunday for his 172nd consecutive first grade game, he will have his mind and body focused on the job, but he has a heavy heart.

    Last November, one week into pre-season training, he received a phone call from his father Chris that shook him to the core.

    Luke's parents were on the trip of a lifetime through Europe to watch younger brother Kane play for the Wallabies. They had only ever been overseas once before to Bali. Sadly, the dream holiday quickly became a nightmare.

    Luke's mum Trish suffered a stroke on the flight into London. By the time he'd received the phone call she was in a critical condition at Northwick Park Hospital, near Wembley.

    "The phone rang and it was Dad in tears. It crushed me. The next thing I was straight on a plane to England," Douglas says.

    Those early days were touch and go for Luke and his family. His dad was a mess, 23-year-old Kane, who was of course traumatised, somehow managed to play a rugby Test just days later. The youngest, Jake, travelled with Luke.

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    Amid everything going on, Luke had to keep fit. On his way to hospital each day he would jump off his train three stops early and run the rest of the way trying to beat his time from the previous effort.

    "We were there for three weeks. Mum took a week before she showed any signs of improvement, then we found out the underlying cause of the stroke and we knew we had to get her home," he says.

    "A lump high up on her leg was actually a malignant melanoma pushing up against a major artery. As ill as she was, we all agreed that mum needed to be treated by Australian doctors. They didn't see a lot of this type of cancer in the UK."

    Trish was gravely ill -- with no movement down her right side, and little ability to communicate -- so getting home involved much more than jumping on a plane.

    With the help of an occupational therapist in England, Luke and his dad quickly worked out what they needed to do to manage the long flight home. "That 30 hours from start to finish was the toughest I've ever faced in my life -- physically and emotionally," Douglas says.

    "I have always loved my dad but my respect for him has grown even more over the past four months. He has been unbelievable, never leaving Mum's side."

    Back in Australia, Luke had to get stuck into training while his mother had further treatment and tests in Sydney. He would go as hard as he could all week here on the Coast then jump on a plane on the weekend to help out his family.

    Late December came another thunderbolt. The family was together to celebrate Christmas when Luke's dad got the boys together to tell them the latest news.

    "We were there with Dad and a couple of my uncles and aunts. Dad said the doctors can't do anything, the tumour is too large and just too hard to get to. We all just bawled our eyes out."

    With little hope, the family did everything they could to make it the best Christmas they could for their mum.

    It is important to note this is no ordinary woman. All her life Trish has done everything possible to help the four men she loves so much, her husband and three boys, along with the community around her.

    Working with special-needs children, Trish has often piled up her Tarago and taken them from Yamba to the Coast to watch the football.

    Trish has been there for others her whole life. Now that she and her family have needed help, Luke says the support has been overwhelming.

    On New Year's Day, there was finally some good news. A specialist said he could operate. They had found a way to give it a go.

    With such a major operation and a football team of surgeons needed, it took until last Tuesday, March 5, for the operation to go ahead. It was 12 hours in the theatre and in Luke's words the doctors "gave it a real go".

    Trish came through the operation and now hopefully is on the road to recovery. She still has no movement down her right side and can only communicate in short sentences. The most important one for her boys is, 'I love you'.

    "We are far from out of the woods but I'd like to thank everyone who has helped," Douglas says.

    "The Titans have been amazing and the people of Yamba have also been sensational, as have the people close to us like my partner Adele and her family. But we can only take it day by day."

    The Titans have donated 300 tickets to the family this weekend so look out for a group dressed in yellow and black (the colours of Yamba) in the crowd on Sunday.

    Most importantly say a quiet prayer for Trish.

    Tim Gilbert has been a sports presenter and reporter for Channel 9 for the past 18 years. He can be seen this weekend on the Today S

  2. #2
    Captain Toads's Avatar
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    Pretty hard not to shed a tear after reading that yarn.

    Wishing the Douglas Family the Very Best, and hope Trish makes a speedy recovery.

  3. #3
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    I was worried about Trish ever since we heard about what happened to her last year. It's devastating reading, a nightmare. I am glad she has the opportunity to fight now.

    I hope the Titans family can embrace the Douglas family in their time of urgent need.

    Trish Douglas Footy Fundraiser!
    PUT EM TO THE SWORD! SHOW SOME STEEL!

    Moejoe: "REMEMBER!!!! SLIP - SLOP - SLAP in the sun. Skin Cancer is a growing problem. It could happen to anyone!!"
    TITANS, DIEHARDS, WARRINGTON WOLVES, MAROONS, KANGAROOS, HONG KONG THUNDER

  4. #4
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    Come watch Titans smash the Raiders and support the Douglas family!

    Everyone is encouraged to wear yellow and black colours as we will all be sitting together! Banners are allowed check with organisers for size restrictions.

    Buses will be departing from the following locations:

    -Yamba Bowling Club at 10.00 am sharp. This bus will also pick up opposite Yamba shopping fair shortly after departure.
    -Clarence hotel Maclean (Bottom pub) at 10.00 am sharp.

    Buses will be returning at approximately 8.00pm from Skilled Park. Alcohol is NOT allowed onboard the buses.

    Tickets are a single price of $35 or $50 which includes your bus fare. Tickets are available from Friday 8th March onwards at the following locations:

    - Carpet Court Yamba, Ray O'Brien 6646 1544
    - Elders Real Estate Yamba, Mike Harvey 6646 2321
    - Jo Bennett 0402 626 475
    - Clarence Hotel Maclean 0266452088 or Luke Many 0477
    085 376
    - Burleigh Bears Football Club, Gold Coast (please state you want a ticket for the Trish Douglas footy fundraiser)
    - North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club, Gold Coast

    TICKETS ARE TO BE PURCHASED WITH CASH ONLY

    *Anyone not able to attend the game that wishes to make a donation can do so by bank deposit:

    Commonwealth Bank
    Yamba Surf LIfe Saving Club Operating Account
    BSB 062-688
    AC 1000-8490
    REF Douglas 1307

    PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO THIS FACEBOOK EVENT!
    PUT EM TO THE SWORD! SHOW SOME STEEL!

    Moejoe: "REMEMBER!!!! SLIP - SLOP - SLAP in the sun. Skin Cancer is a growing problem. It could happen to anyone!!"
    TITANS, DIEHARDS, WARRINGTON WOLVES, MAROONS, KANGAROOS, HONG KONG THUNDER

  5. #5
    Immortal Titanic's Avatar
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    I have nothing but respect for this courageous gentleman. His down to earth, refreshing attitude is a wonderful testimony to the quality up-bringing his family has given him. All the best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to his mum.

    We all face personal tragedy at some time or other but the pain never diminishes ... you're very right Toads, a moving piece. Thanks Titans for showing such compassion and that's why we are the club we are.
    Four reasons to escape to Queensland: Sun, Surf, Sand & the Titans.

  6. #6
    Junior Titan
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    I have never meet Luke before but I only hear positive things about this young man.Its obvious that this tight family has had a great influence on him as a man.Sending you all my best wishes and hopes to Luke and his family.


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