Six-months-ago it wasn't for certain Durakai Smith would see his next birthday after a serious incident placed him in a coma.
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Now, the Guerie hero and Bandage Bear Appeals newest ambassador will celebrate turning seven with friends and family, while simultaneously raising funds for Westmead Children's Hospital.
Durakai's mum Brinae Smith said while he still suffers from an extreme brain injury that wiped his frontal lobe and erased his ability to decipher between good and bad, they are grateful to be able to tuck him into his own bed each night.
But that is not the case for every child who finds themselves at Westmead.
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The Smith family are hosting an open gold coin event for the public to coincide with Durakai's birthday celebrations which will include a raffle with an overnight stay at Billabong Retreat, Western Plains Zoo for a family of four as the first prize, live entertainment and an array of activities from a clown to a photobooth.
During the second half of the party, Brinae, her mother Lowana West and father Harry West will be shaving their heads.
"Another little boy from Forbes, Robert, is a leukaemia patient at Westmead and we are really close to his family," Brinae said.
"It really broke my heart when he had to shave his hair, he loved his hair. Glenn and I knew we wanted to do something. When [Robert's parents] mentioned Bandage Bear, Glenn and I spoke with them about doing something for him and all of the other kids and they were all for it."
Briane's hair will be shaved by special guest, Grace, who is not only the family's neighbour, but had stayed in the exact hospital room as Durakai when she was receiving cancer treatment at Westmead two years earlier.
"We were neighbours for about six months before the accident. My parents went to explain to them what had happened and ask if they could watch the house. Before I had even arrived in Sydney I received a text from [Grace's mum] saying; Hey, I heard what happened, I've called Ronald McDonald House for you, I'll be there if you need me."
Brinae said the funds are crucial to ensure Westmead Children's Hospital can continue saving children's lives. "Without them, our children wouldn't have survived," she said.
The event will be held at the Commercial Hotel in Dubbo on Thursday, March 25 from 4:30pm.
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