A BENDIGO family has been blown away by community support as their "special little girl" fights cancer.
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Three-year-old Ivy Decker was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in early January.
She is now undergoing treatment in Melbourne with parents Corey and Nicole by her side.
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A GoFundMe has already raised more than $10,500 to help both her parents remain with her in Melbourne for as long as possible.
Ivy's aunty Kelli set up the fundraiser to support the family, who are paying rent in both Melbourne and Bendigo, while fast using up small amounts of leave.
Their two sons, Ivy's older brothers, are staying with relatives.
Kelli said Ivy was diagnosed with leukemia after being unwell for about eight weeks, with pain and temperatures.
Ivy's uncle Brett said she was lucky the disease was identified just before the cancer reached the stage where it entered her spinal fluid.
Kellli said everyone was quite optimistic about a cure for Ivy, but the effects of the treatment were very challenging.
She said Ivy and her parents needed to stay close to her hospital in Melbourne and isolate, because treatment made her vulnerable to any infections.
The three-year-old was having chemotherapy weekly and being assessed in hospital twice a week, Kelli said.
She is due for further tests in early February, to determine the best course of treatment.
Kelli said the family was unsure how long they would need to remain in Melbourne.
About a month is the best case scenario and 12 months the worst, she said.
Kelli said the kindness shown by community members response to the GoFundMe page was absolutely amazing.
She said its aim was to ease the burden on the family, to get them through a tough time.
"It's one thing, you see all these donations from friends and family, and that's wonderful and so lovely," Brett said.
"Then there's so many donations form people we don't know, complete strangers."
As for Ivy, Kelli said she had good days and bad, but was still full of spirit and full of life.
"She really is such a special little girl," Kellie said.
Find out more at: gofundme.com/f/ivys-leukaemia-journey
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