By ANEEKA SIMONIS
WHEN Becky Branca, Mrs Australia Globe 2014, gave birth to her son 22 months ago, she had no idea what she and her husband Angelo were in for.
Dominic, the younger brother to three-year-old sister Izabella, was born with a range of genetic defects identified as a disorder of the corpus callosum (DoCC).
Suffering with cerebral palsy, scoliosis, heart, kidney and hearing problems as well as an eye condition called nystagmus, Dominic’s crippling condition is caused by a brain defect which remains to be understood by the wider community.
But not for long.
The Cranbourne North pageant mum has made it her mission to raise awareness about the condition by hosting a fund-raising gala in Berwick next month.
“When my husband’s father passed away two years ago … I was 31 weeks in utero and all the scans to this point were fine. I wanted to cheer everyone up, so I got another scan but this one showed that Dominic had scoliosis,” Becky recalled.
“We have been seeing specialists since, and when he was born at the Monash Hospital, he was rushed off straight away for scans and MRIs and has had endless tests since.
“It was only recently that we went in for an MRI and found out that part of his corpus callosum (brain) was missing … every time we go to the doctor we find out something new,” she said.
The neurological disorder, which affects 1 in 4000 infants from the womb, is yet to be fully understood by Australia’s medical community making it hard on parents.
“Most people don’t know about it … I know I had never heard about it before. Most families have had to go to the US for help and treatment as there is hardly anything here in Australia,” said Becky as she described the lack of information and government funding for the disorder which requires expensive specialist sessions each week.
As part of her charitable duties as Mrs Australia Globe, Becky will host a fund-raising gala for Australian Disorders of the Corpus Callosum at Clover Cottage in Berwick on Sunday 9 November from 6.30pm.
The event will offer a three-course meal, silent auction, raffles as well as a star-studded performance by Voice finalist Candice Skjonnemand.
Tickets range from $85 to $100 per person. To purchase a ticket, search Mrs Australia Globe’s at www.eventbrite.com.au.
Becky Branca is due to compete at the Mrs Globe pageant in China at the end of November.
