Community
26 August, 2025
Toddler in fight for her life
Family needs to raise $100,000 for specialised US-based medical treatment
A FAR North Queensland family is racing against time to save their three-year-old daughter Oceana Rain, who is recovering from surgery after being diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour.
Oceana’s father, Josh Marsden, said their youngest daughter was a vibrant and joyful child who, within days of showing only mild symptoms, suddenly lost the ability to walk, talk or sit up.
“Our little girl went from chasing roosters and making presents for everyone to crying in pain and unable to move,” he wrote on the family’s GoFundMe page.
After being sent home from Innisfail Hospital, Oceana’s condition deteriorated rapidly. She was flown to Townsville, then to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, where scans revealed a critical brain tumour.
“She’s had one surgery already, but they could only remove about 10 to 15 per cent because it’s wrapped around major infrastructure,” Mr Marsden said.
“We were told it was the worst place to have a brain tumour,” he said.
“She has a brain shunt installed on her right side that drains and releases excess spinal fluid. This drains the fluid via a line that runs from head to stomach and is now for life to prevent hydrocephalus as the tumour is blocking her spinal cord pathway that allows CSF to circulate naturally.”
Mr Marsden said Oceana was now “conscious but unable to walk and has lost sight in her left eye, we’re praying this is temporary. The surgeons went in from that side of the skull to debulk the tumour. She is very sick of everyone touching her and doing ops on her everyday.”
With no viable surgical option available in Australia, the family is seeking treatment at the Burzynski Clinic in Texas.
He said treatment involved installing a line through her arm into her heart valve to administer the Neoplaston therapy.
“They teach us how to administer the treatment during our 10 to 14 day visit. Each month they send us the treatment protocol if we pay our monthly fees.”
Estimated base costs are approximately $17,000 USD per month, excluding any custom-targeted treatments, tissue and blood sampling, travel or accommodation.
“We’d like to be there as soon as we can safely fly her there,” Mr Marsden said.
A GoFundMe campaign titled ‘Help Save Our Little Girl – Oceana Rain’ has already raised more than $37,000, although Mr Marsden clarified the real goal is $100,000.
“We would like to thank the entire Cairns and Cassowary Coast community for their donations and support. It’s been incredible how fast the word spread across the Cairns and Innisfail community,” he said.
Josh, Sheryl and five-year-old big sister Aurora, who live at Mena Creek south of Innisfail, are continuing their fight to give Oceana the best possible chance at recovery.
To support the fundraiser, visit: https://bit.ly/40EMWFC
Read More: Innisfail