Virus boy will join Susan’s pilgrimage

Sydney
24 August 2003

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Virus boy will join Susan’s pilgrimage

By Chris Lindsay

More than $36,000 has now been received for the appeal to send Susan Gunderson, a quadriplegic mother of two young children, on a pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Enough has been raised for a six-year-old boy, Harrison Creevey, who became a quadriplegic three years ago after contracting Murray Valley encephalitis from a mosquito bite, to go on the pilgrimage as well.

Susan has been a quadriplegic since she suffered a brain haemorrhage in Brisbane in May 1996. She is unable to speak except through an electronic voice synthesiser and unable to care for herself or her children.

She and 15 other pilgrims will leave on September 2 for a pilgrimage to Paris, Nevers, Lourdes, San Giovanni Rotondo in Pietralcina, Mont San Michele and Rome.

Nicole King, who is co-ordinating the fund, says there “can be no doubt that Our Lord and his Blessed Mother are steering this ship as money continues to flood in from all over the country”.

Nicole, a close family friend, says: “Our aim was to raise $20,000, but we thought that would be a difficult task and we might possibly have to borrow money ... instead we have been blessed with the most incredible response as people open up their hearts.

“In the last few days we received a cheque for $3000 from Villanova Catholic Boys College, where her son Harry attends school, and another from Mt Carmel Primary for $500. Loreto College has pledged $300. St Joachim’s had a Susan Gunderson day and raised $650 - from a school with only 108 students. A little girl of nine, Jessica, on her own initiative raised $108 through door-knocking.” A Christian Brother had sent a cheque for $1000 “and pledged his daily prayers and Masses for Susan’s recovery”.

Nicole said many Catholic Weekly readers have been particularly moved by the total love and dedication of Steven Gunderson.

“As one reader said: ‘How many of us would show such love, sacrifice and hope as her husband Stephen does? How lovely to read of children kneeling in prayer to ask God’s help. How precious in God’s sight and for the future of his Church in the world.”

Nicole said those associated with the fund were particularly touched by two letters.

“One said: ‘Have enclosed a cheque for $100 for Susan Gunderson. I am a quadriplegic, and had the opportunity to go to Lourdes. I wasn’t cured physically, but was cured spiritually’. The other reader sent a donation and told of the battle he and his wife are facing to save her remaining leg. He has given up work to be her full time carer.”

Nicole said that Harrison Creevey, the young boy who is going on the pilgrimage, was living in Mt Isa when he became a quadriplegic “and unable to speak” after being bitten by a mosquito.

“Last week Susan Gunderson typed out on her message board that she wanted Harrison to be included in the pilgrimage.

“After reading of Harrison’s condition, her husband Steven volunteered 18 months ago to work on a program to help Harrison to crawl.”