This year has been a tough one for Rory Turnbull and his parents Aimee and Arnold.
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Rory has had multiple viral infections, been on numerous trips to hospital, he is on and off steroids and a constantly on a long list of antibiotics.
At a routine specialist appointment in June, Aimee and Arnold were informed Rory would require airway reconstruction surgery.
This was due to recurring issues and failed attempts to widen his airways. The operation is scheduled for November.
The Camden Haven community is rallying behind the family with a Camden Haven Charity Touch Day called Run for Rory, set to take place on Sunday, October 27.
The event is at Laurieton Oval and kick off is at 9am.
Rory turned two-years-old on September 28.
Aimee said Rory's airways are roughly a third of the size of what a normal healthy child's airway should be. When Rory is sick this is reduced by only a third of that again, which doesn't leave much room at all.
At the end of June, a bout of gastro resulted in Rory developing pneumonia and his airways closed.
Aimee said it was a very scary experience for her and Arnold. Only a couple of days after being admitted to Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Rory and Arnold had to make an emergency flight to Newcastle for intensive treatment.
Rory was fitted with a tracheal tube to help him breathe. However it has taken his speech and any form of verbal communication away, which means there is no sound when he is in distress.
"It's hard now trying to understand his non verbal cues, which is really just a process of elimination of what's around us" Aimee said.
Aimee and Arnold get up multiple times a night to clear Rory's airway, as the tracheal tub can fill up with mucus.
"It has to be suctioned out frequently so he doesn't block his airway," Aimee said.
When Rory was rushed to hospital in June, Aimee had been back working part time for two months.
However Rory now requires 24/7 high level care and it means Aimee is unable to work.
The family has to make regular trips to Newcastle to ensure Rory receives the specialist care he needs.
There is a slight chance the reconstruction might not be successful, but Aimee and Arnold are hopeful that won't be the case for Rory.
The best outcome from the surgery is that Rory will have a safe patent airway.
Aimee said they are very overwhelmed and thankful with the amount of support shown by the community.
"We're just parents doing what we need to to look after our little boy," she said.
Aimee said they hope to be home for Christmas but aren't planning too far ahead from Rory's surgery.
If you would like to enter a team into the Run for Rory fundraiser on October 27, please contact Bec on 0403 909 799.
More information about the event is available via the 2019 Camden Haven Touch Football Fundraiser- Run For Rory Facebook page.