Daniel's Story
If you know anyone who’s struggled to have a baby, you’ll understand why little Daniel is his parents’ pride and joy.
When Jo and Phil discovered a deep, blue bruise on their son Daniel’s leg, they hoped for the best – putting it down to him being a “rowdy 3-year-old boy” living on a farm. However, the normally highly charged and active Daniel was unusually quiet. He looked pale and took long naps.
Jo tells us, “Shortly after that we dropped Daniel off at day care, they rang and said that he was unresponsive and his lips were blue.”
Daniel’s GP ordered urgent blood tests and soon the emergency transport team were giving him blood transfusions to stabilise him to fly to Melbourne. “There wasn’t enough room on the plane for me to go with Daniel,” Jo recalls, “So with my heart in my mouth, we dashed home to pack clothes and begin the long drive to the hospital.”
“This is where our nightmare started –where we went from being able to plan for the future to living one day at a time.”
Daniel was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. “After everything we went through to bring him into the world, we couldn’t believe we were hearing the word cancer.”
The word ‘cancer’ is the beginning of a long and painful journey no parent wants to take.
Every day holds fear and heartache. “I will never forget the anguish I felt when I had to physically hold him down for a blood test,” Jo says quietly. “We were told to be prepared for a tough six months of treatment. Six months! Where would we live? How would we run the farm?”
Also, Jo had discovered another miracle baby was on the way, “Where could we all stay, especially with a baby due in a few months?”Even though we know we can’t take away the fear or the pain of cancer, Fight Cancer Foundation can walk alongside families during their battle. We help with the practical things that can reduce the stress placed on families.
Jo said, “We registered for the wonderful Fight Cancer Foundation accommodation centre right near the hospital. I felt so relieved – this was one major problem solved and I could focus on Daniel.”
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Jo and Phil had a safe place to stay. We were able to provide accommodation for the family for the six months of Daniel’s treatment. It also meant Jo’s nearby parents were able to support her, enabling her to focus on Daniel.
“It was heartbreaking to watch our child endure chemo and lose his hair, eyelashes and eyebrows, but the other side effects like viral infections and the impact to his heart became more of a concern,” says Jo. “It was difficult to stay focused on the end goal. There were many times I wondered how we and Daniel would stay strong.”
Jo and Phil spent their days at the hospital trying to keep Daniel distracted and it was here again that Jo said, “Fight Cancer Foundation came to our rescue.”
In hospital, Daniel took part in our education support program, ensuring he continued to maintain the same learning level as his peers and have some normality.
“The routine that this program offered was invaluable. Every day at 11 o’clock Daniel went to kinder. Here he was able to immerse himself in the program and enjoy the creative activities and play with his friends,” said Jo.
During his stay, Daniel also celebrated Footy Colours Day with professional football players and loveable Fight Cancer Foundation mascot Bo Bear.
On the 18th October, the family joyfully welcomed baby Mitchell into the world. The family chose to bank Mitchell’s cord blood as a safety net for the future.
With mum and dad by his side, Daniel faced the treatment with all the bravery he could muster.
Finally, the family heard the news they had longed for – Daniel’s bone marrow test came back cancer-free and they were given the all clear to return home, the week before Christmas.
Daniel and his family are back enjoying life on the farm.
Please donate today to help a family like Daniel’s face cancer with strength and courage.
