Seb’s story is one of courage, resilience, and deep community support. What began as a simple illness quickly became a life-altering battle for health, home, and hope.
Seb became suddenly unwell after a bout of gastro. He rapidly lost weight, began experiencing loose stools with blood, and showed no signs of improvement.
Multiple emergency visits and blood tests revealed chronic inflammation and elevated liver enzymes, indicating serious internal stress.
After several hospital stays, Seb was referred to the Gastroenterology team at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
A colonoscopy and endoscopy confirmed a dual diagnosis:
🩺 Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Seb began treatment and slowly stabilised.
He regained the 11 kilos he had lost, started high school, and began enjoying life again.
Seb’s health took a sudden turn when a new medication, Mesalamine, caused a severe allergic reaction.
He was rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital with Acute Pancreatitis.
Seb’s weight dropped drastically, from 48kg down to 40kg within weeks.
We made our first shocking discovery:
💥 Hidden toxic mould inside our bathroom walls and floor.
As we began demolition, we found rotten framework, soaked subflooring, and dangerous black mould.
We had to remove our only bathroom and begin the search for mould illness specialists.
Seb began seeing a Functional Doctor specialising in Mould Toxicity and Autoimmune Conditions.
Testing revealed Seb had mould levels 15x the safe limit, with all five toxic species detected in his system.
Seb endured another 8-day hospital stay as he detoxed from mould exposure.
His weight dropped to a critical 36kg, and he was fitted with a life-saving feeding tube.
A positive sign: his liver function returned to normal once he was out of the toxic environment.
After further testing of our home, we made a second devastating discovery:
🔎 Seb’s bedroom and our main bedroom also contained unsafe levels of toxic mould—despite the bathroom now testing clear.
We were forced to gut our entire home, tearing out walls, ceilings, insulation, flooring, and tiles.
We lost everything—furniture, clothes, bedding, mattresses.
💔 Insurance didn’t cover any of it.
But something beautiful happened…
Axon Plastering donated a full home’s worth of plaster, plus their labour
Stevo’s Inso installed donated insulation
Colin Reid Painting, with paint donated by Dulux, repainted the entire home
Mus from Dulux Paints had paint donated
Charlie from Charlies Maintenance finished the bathroom for us
Isaac from Power Rangers Electrical donated his trade.
We are endlessly grateful for the angels who helped us begin again.
Seb had two more hospital admissions:
🗓️ March 1st–14th and April 20th–24th, continuing treatment for his IBD and pancreatitis flare-ups. His liver health still needs attention.
He is currently on monthly autoimmune-suppressing infusions, with ongoing testing for pancreatic and liver health. IBD is starting to come under control.
Seb is rebuilding—slowly, bravely, beautifully.
He is healing not just from disease, but from trauma, loss, and disruption.
Thanks to a community of support, he has a safer space to rest, recover, and just be a kid again.
We’re still walking this road one day at a time—and we’re so grateful you’re walking it with us. 💛
Media articles:
Family forced to gut toxic home
Lara family Nightmare
Angel Tradies Save the Day
Axon’s Plastering Offers to Fix Home