Deemed too 'high-risk' to be treated in Australia, Yarpturk's Angus Marney to travel to America in a bid to cure his severe food allergies

The youngster dreams of growing up and becoming a dairy farmer like his dad Jack, but his severe anaphylactic allergies to dairy, eggs and peanuts has rendered that dream impossible.

He can't even give his dad a hug after he's been in contact with cows without experiencing a reaction.

That is, unless he can fly to America to receive specialist treatment.

Currently, the oral immunotherapy treatment (OIT) he requires is unavailable in Australia and any trials that do exist in the country are inaccessible to Angus, who is deemed 'too high-risk.'

"He's had allergies since he was a baby and they have gotten worse as he gets older," mum Emily said.

"Last year he had two anaphylactic reactions, one to eggs in May and one to cheese in September. During the September one he needed two Epipens in the space of ten minutes.

"I've been researching for over a year and have found this treatment which involves travelling to Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. This is our chance to really improve his quality of life, and it's the right time before he starts school."

The treatment involves orally administering a minimum amount of the food protein that the child is allergic to, mixed with water for the first few doses, then increasing the dose until their body becomes desensitised.

Angus will undergo this treatment for six weeks in America, and then at home in Yarpturk via correspondence to Atlanta.

"At the moment he reacts to contact dairy and we don't want to pass that stress and anxiety to his school when he starts," Emily said.

"I know how hard it is to get kids to each their lunch, and I don't want to limit what other children can eat because of Angus' allergies."

The treatment has given parents Emily and Jack some hope - if successful, he will be able to eat freely.

"There's always a risk of course because he still has an allergy. But it means he can go and give his dad a hug, pat a cow without having an allergic reaction and go on school camps.

"It means that when he says he wants to be a dairy farmer, we can say he definitely can.

"I'd love to be able to tell my child that he can be whatever he wants to be."

The treatment is expected to cost up to $10,000, a figure out of reach for the family of five.

"We have saved a lot of money for this trip, but we are still a long way off our target," Emily said.

"We are humbly asking for any donations people wish to contribute and anything we raise will go towards the cost of the treatment.

"Any donations large or small would be greatly appreciated as it helps as get one step closer to improving Angus' quality of life."

Angus and Emily leave for America in October this year, when Angus is four years old.

Donation tins are set up in some Koroit businesses, and contributions can also be made online at GoFundMe.

His progress can be followed by searching Marney Brothers Food Allergy Journey on Facebook.

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