TYE Carmichael spent the first five weeks of his life away from home.
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The five-month-old has the rare brain disorder Lissencephaly and also suffers from a seizure disorder similar to epilepsy and an optic nerve disorder.
But despite all this, his mother says he is “the quietest, most cutest little fellow you could meet”.
“He doesn’t cry, he just loves opening his eyes and looking around,” Joanne Carmichael said.
“My husband and I have six children between us, so Tye has plenty of older brothers and sisters to look out for him.”
Ms Carmichael’s attitude is amazingly positive as she and her husband stay strong for Tye.
Lissencephaly is so rare that there very few child case to compare it to.
“(Doctors) haven’t been able to tell us much, kids like Tye usually don't live past two,” Ms Carmichael said.
She said while some babies might suffer from one epileptic fit a day, Tye has multiple each hour.
The family’s strong, positive attitude comes from wanting to give Tye as much love as possible and making sure he is comfortable and has his needs met.
“We have had our meltdowns but have kind of got to the stage where we have got to be the strong ones for Tye,” Ms Carmichael said.
“You’ve got to have your moments but we are staying strong and keeping him comfortable. We don't want to see him in pain.”
In the first five weeks of Tye’s life he was in the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
The Carmichaels got support from Ronald McDonald House, which meant they were close by Tye at all times.
“It was fantastic being able to stay down there,” Ms Carmichael said.
“There was no stress about where we had to go, everything was supplied and we just concentrated on Tye. He is such a little battler.”
The Carmichaels are now also helping raise awareness and funds for Ronald McDonald House.
Ronald McDonald House’s Ride for Sick Kids sees participants ride 400km to raise funds for RMH charities.
It will stop in Bendigo at the All Seasons Hotel on the evening of Monday, March 7.
“Seeing what they are riding for gives them a big boost,” Ms Carmichael said.
“It helps them realise how important Ronald McDonald House is to the whole community, be it a rare brain disorder or a broken arm.”
