ONLY 14 months into his life, Horsham’s Casen Parish has made the trip to Melbourne more than most boys his age.
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Casen was born with anorectal malformation, a condition where the bowel is not completely connected to the anus.
The condition requires regular visits to the Royal Children’s Hospital for surgery and monitoring.
While in Melbourne, his mother Naomi Pearce, father Dean Parish and brothers Teejay, 15, Dyson, 12, and Kyren, 7, often stay at Ronald McDonald House.
“We’d be in so much financial trouble if we didn’t have the Ronald McDonald House,” Ms Pearce said.
“For his really big operations, we’re down there for more than two weeks at a time.”
Saturday was McHappy Day, which aimed to raise $3 million for Ronald McDonald House.
Ms Pearce said staying at Ronald McDonald House relieved some of the stress the family experienced.
“You never know when you’re going to need it or someone you know is going to need it,” she said.
“It’d have to be one of the best causes ever because it helps so many people.
“When you live so far away it’s nice to know you’ve got a bed and it helps with the financial pressures of going backwards and forwards.”
Ms Pearce said she vastly preferred the house to motels.
“It’s more like a home,” she said.
While being able to stay at Ronald McDonald House does help, the costs of repeated surgery and bringing up four boys has hit the family.
A trivia night to raise money for the family is on Friday at the Horsham Greyhound Racing Club rooms.
Ms Pearce said people could call Tammy McDonald on 0417 019 337 for information and tickets.