Grateful for the care James Furletti received at Northern Hospital Epping after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, he wanted to say thank you by donating a gold nugget to the Northern Health Foundation.

“My experience here was unbelievable, I had really good care. I couldn’t be any happier,” he said.

He came to Northern Health late September last year, and had bowel surgery in October.

“I had surgery and then spent some time in the Intensive Care Unit. The care was just fantastic and I feel really good now,” he said.

The doctors here saved my life and I wanted to show my appreciation to the hospital by giving a nugget. The doctors said the Foundation can receive a gift of that kind and I was happy to donate,” he added.

Jimmy, as he prefers to be known as, started looking for gold in 2006. His son in law gave him a gold detector and after finding the first nugget, he has been looking ever since all over Victoria, but mostly around Bendigo.

“I would like to see the money from this gold spent on oncology. It’s not worth millions, but can help someone,” he added.

James in now nearly 80 years old and plans to keep looking for gold, at least once a week.

“I can’t wait to get out in the bush again. I spend around 8 hours a day in the bush and it’s something I enjoy doing.”