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Eydge Milligan, the 11-year-old Palmerston North schoolgirl who needs surgery to move her anus so she can go to the toilet normally, will get her operation in Cincinnati in February.
The Kairanga Lions Club and Rotary Clubs of Palmerston North have taken over the fundraising to ensure the family can afford the trip.
"I was just so overwhelmed, I burst into tears," says mum Chrissy Davis, who has spearheaded a six- month campaign that has raised $61,000 so far toward Eydge's hospital costs.
"They told me I don't have to stand outside Bunnings rattling a bucket any more.
"It's a huge relief."
And Eydge is ecstatic that at last she's getting the operation that will free her from daily abdominal irrigation and the embarrassment of bowel leaks and accidents.
"She's just so excited, she's telling everyone.
"But she's sensible, too. Her friends told her that they can't wait to see the new Eydge, but she's told them she'll still be the same girl. Just parts of her will be new."
Lions appeal coordinator Malcolm Plimmer said his club formally endorsed the decision to take over running the appeal this week, and will launch an intensive bid to attract the last $35,000 early in the New Year.
"It was a unanimous decision by our club to get behind this. I don't think I've ever worked on such a rewarding project.
"The family have done a marvellous job to get this far. We've told them they can stop now, and go home and start packing."
Mr Plimmer said the clubs had raised the target for fundraising to $100,000 to cover airfares and other living expenses, an offer Ms Davis says has quite blown her away. "That was something we never felt we should seek assistance for, but it is out of our depth, to be honest."
Ms Davis will travel as Eydge's principal caregiver, and will also take baby brother Isyle. Big sister Ash will go to look after him while Ms Davis is at Eydge's bedside, and the most exciting part for Eydge is that her twin sister, Djoram, will be able to go, too.
"It means they won't have to spend their birthday apart, on February 24."
Dad Stuart will be left to hold the fort at home, in charge of the five other children for four to six weeks.
Ms Davis said having a date set for the operation means Eydge would probably be able to forgo having a colostomy in Wellington in January that had been planned as an interim measure before getting the corrective surgery that is not available yet in New Zealand.
The Colorectal Centre for Children at Cincinnati Children's Hospital is recognised as a world leader and surgeons are donating their expertise for free.
Ms Davis said the family is looking forward to a relatively quiet Christmas now they are free of the burden of raising the money themselves.
Eydge and the support crew are due to fly out of New Zealand in the last week of January.
"We just can't thank people enough. This is something that, a year ago, we could not even contemplate.
"There is still a long way to go, but it is a huge relief to have the effort of fundraising taken off our shoulders. It's just fantastic how fast things are moving."
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