Amy was a happy, smiling little 5 year old girl who had just finished her first term of Kindergarten. I would put her long golden curls into a pony tail, help her with her oversized back pack, and then kiss her and her 15 year old sister Emma goodbye. Seeing the girls walk hand in hand to the bus stop was every mother’s joy. Wow! How life can change?
One the 19th of April this year Amy was diagnosed with High Risk B-Cursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). Amy had been well, loved school, played all day, and didn’t even go to sleep on her sister’s lap on the way home on the bus. She had registered for her first season of soccer, and played a whole carnival day only one month before we arrived in
It was only after Amy had an Asthma attack the weekend before Easter, that a blood test showed there was a problem with her blood. Our Doctor thought her results were most likely due to a low-grade virus. After consulting two Paediatricians, our Doctor ordered more blood tests to be done 2 weeks later. I was on school holidays at home with the girls when I got the call at 10.30am. "Jane, the results aren’t good”. I asked our Doctor if I needed to get Greg, and when he replied "Yes” I knew we were in trouble. We were at the Doctor’s within the hour. "Amy has leukaemia. You need to go home and pack your bags for at least a month. You need to be at the Royal Children’s Hospital by 4.30p.m. today.” We live just outside Casino (30 minutes west of Lismore on the Far North Coast of New South Wales) so we had to get moving. Within 24 hours of walking out of the Doctor’s surgery Amy had her port put in and had started Chemo. Emma was told to pack her bag for her grandparents. Greg drove and I made the phone calls.
It is Amy’s little 15kg body who has to cope with the physical and mental treatment for her leukaemia, but the fight belongs to everyone in her family. Greg and I are with Amy every step of the way. Our jobs are on hold for the 8 months that we will spend in
Four months down the track you wonder how you coped. However, that’s the thing; just ask any of the families at Childhood Cancer Support and every story, though so very different, seems to somehow be the same. Each family faces its own kind of hell, but we are so blessed to have these amazing, courageous children who seem to give us the strength we need to support them.
We had been in
parents who were also fighting childhood cancer and understood what you were going through was such a support. A flat soon became available and we moved in. The support from the CCS staff, whether it is answering real questions, or just that smile you need sometimes is priceless.
We have another 4 months ahead of us staying in
Amy thinks the ‘Body Shop’ girls are fantastic, and now nothing is to interfere with her Wednesday morning routine. Lois and Brian’s famous barbeques and jewellery mornings once a month and are also highlights. Nothing is ever to much trouble for the CCS staff, and they love to spoil the families who are fortunate to be part of the Childhood Cancer Support community.
The last 4 months have been the biggest roller coaster ride of our lives. We have faced the gut wrenching reality that our little girl has leukaemia, yet are thankful Amy has ALL. We are blessed with amazing children, and being part of two loving and supporting families. The opportunity to live within the CCS community helps make our journey so much more manageable. The dignity and strength demonstrated by the families you meet through the Banksia ward, who are often fighting even greater battles is humbling. We have amazing children and despite everything they still have their beautiful smiles and seemingly unlimited courage. We are blessed.
Jane Flick (Mum) 2007