One Mum's Heartbreaking Sacrifice

LIFE IN A COUNTRY TOWN ON STRUGGLE STREET

- April Glover

A new season of Struggle Street on SBS will put a harsh spotlight on some of Australia’s toughest issues.

The observational documentary takes an unfiltered look at the financial and social struggles of rural and regional folk across the country.

And one of the biggest problems is a hard pill to swallow ‒ healthcare.

Riverina parents Peta, 41, and Ricky, 47, share 5-year-old twins Cody and Bree, and live in the tiny country town of Nangus. Raising twins is a difficult enough job on its own, but it’s twice as hard with Cody’s deteriorating health.

Little Cody suffers from Dent disease, a chronic kidney condition that affects his bone growth and development.

It’s so rare there are only a few hundred cases known worldwide.

“Cody has been ill, literally since the day he was born,” Peta tells SBS during her episode.

“He was quite flat when he was born, so they revived him, [but] he turned out to have sepsis.”

The lack of doctors in their isolated town means Peta has to drive 60km almost every day to get her son basic and expensive medical care.

Cody’s illness requires an endless stream of specialists and doctors, all of whom are based in the main cities.