The thought of little Aidan Jachim being stuck on a carousel of specialist appointments, catheter changes and painkillers is enough to make you cry for a year.

And while it may be true that a mother who is really a mother is never free, Belinda Jachim has been forced to endure more than any parent deserves.

Of course, Belinda and her husband Shane don’t have the luxury of sentimentality.

Their focus remains firmly on looking after Aidan and weathering the financial and emotional storm that confronts them.

On top of the regular costs of looking after a child, the Jachims must pay for medication, special equipment and regular doctor’s appointments.

They also have to deal with the unimaginable grief of knowing their boy will be lucky to reach his 21st birthday.

It does seem perverse that at a time of such personal distress, the family has to cop the extra burden of mounting bills.

But light can shine from life’s darkest corners and their choice to settle in Tamworth has been a fortuitous one.

Time and again, Tamworth residents have been an anchor for families adrift in a sea of despair.

And this time has been no different.

The formation of the Aidan Jachim Special Circle has seen a raft of fundraising events held in recent years, including a bowls day, a raffle and a garage sale.

Sadly, the registered charity has found itself without an organiser after the sudden resignation of its previous one due to ill health.

The family now faces the very real risk of having to close the charity and close the door on a critical source of income.

Nothing comes more naturally to the human heart than compassion, and as the Jachims have learned, there is a lot of compassion in Tamworth.

Let’s hope that again comes to the fore and a good-hearted resident comes forward to complete the “special circle”.