Your Friendly Local Bartender - Bulman's Bucket List

Hi from all of us, here at the Illa!

Thank you for taking the time to read about our friend and colleague, Liam Bulman. We hope you have had the pleasure of seeing his smiley face around the venue!

A few short weeks ago, we were all working our usual shifts, all together in the venue. We were laughing, working hard and providing a good time for the great people of the Illawarra region. Our mate, "Bulman" didn't look too great, but as per usual, he pushed through! A few hours later, he gave into the pain and asked to go home. In the early hours of the following Monday morning, Bulman was rushed to hospital by his best mate (another amazing team member here at the illa). Bulman was in crippling pain. This spiraled into 4 days of vigorous and invasive testing. He was scared, in pain and incredibly tired.

A week of testing, hospital visits, Dr visits and anxious waiting, Bulman was diagnosed with High Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma- stage four. A rare, very dangerous type of cancer. He has been given 18 months to live.

The last few weeks have been scary, sad and unknown. Bulman is young. He's 23, with so much to offer the world. He's working hard to get himself through his studies at UOW. He's smart and kind. He's been raised to work hard and contribute to people's lives, and our community. He's incredible.

A message from his Mum, Emily -

"I am writing to you about my 23 year old son, Liam Bulman’s current situation. As you are aware Liam has recently been diagnosed with a rare disease called High Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma- stage four. This cancer is incurable, painful and in a matter of weeks has invaded Liam’s Lymph Nodes, starting within his lower digestive region.

We have been told Liam must start treatment of chemotherapy to help buy him more time. At present he has commenced 6 courses of Cisplatin and Etoposide chemotherapy. This will assist us to aim for longevity, quality of life, a chance to make memories, and receive the care and comfort that suits Liam best.

I would like to thank you for your incredible generosity and support during such a heartbreaking time in our family. The Illawarra Hotel team has become family for my boys, during their early years and throughout this trying time we have come to see your team as family as well.

Below I have included a list of needs, wants and experiences in the coming months that will ensure Liam receives the care he may need, quality of life and experiences of which he would usually have within a full lifetime. This list will possibly adjust and change in the coming months as cancer is unpredictable.

Needs:

• Medical costs such as equipment comfort items such as support items, equipment for at home palliative care, adjustable bed, IV, blood pressure cuff, oxygen monitor, physical therapy needs etc (I am unsure what is under Medicare and what isn’t).

• Future costs to attend medical trials ( some are covered some aren’t ) costs could range from $20000 - hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Just these basic immediate medical and personal bills, come to just over $46,000.

This is without even giving him those life experiences, he so desperately deserves.

Anything we can raise to help take the burden off Liam, we would be incredibly grateful for.

I hope this is an ok start, thank you once more and we are grateful to take this journey with the Illawarra Hotel family by our side.

Em "

Like any 23 year old, there are some really awesome things Bulman would love to experience. We will try our very best to give him as much happiness and fun as we can, and provide very special memories for his family!!

Bulman's Bucket List

If you are still reading along, we are incredibly grateful. This community is a special place and we just know wonderful things can happen when we are all there for each other!

Lots of love,

Liam Bulman, his mum Emily, their family

& The Illawarra Hotel