All posts in Patient stories
First-time dad’s inconceivable battle
It should have been one of the happiest days of Ryan Murray’s life. The soon-to-be dad was filled with joy and relief alongside his wife Nikki during her 12-week pregnancy scan. But that same day, Ryan’s doctor called to tell him he had blood cancer. Jubilation to devastation – in an instant. Ryan and Nikki […]
I’m going to live life to the fullest!
A lack of energy and feeling a bit ‘out of sorts’ were the first indications Caeleigh Hancock wasn’t at her best Register for 55 for 5 She imagined she might be low in iron or something minor which could easily be remedied by a visit to her GP. Caeleigh had never heard of Polycythemia Rubra Vera (PV) when […]
Working out a better way to beat blood cancer
Linda Hennessy was only 23 years old when she was diagnosed with lymphoma, a dangerous blood cancer that develops in the body’s lymphatic system. She spent weeks lying in hospital – at one point in an induced coma – facing the prospect that she wouldn’t survive. “They found tumours around my heart, left lung and […]
Cancer shook our family twice in the same year
Sally Hansen and her husband Jeff celebrated their wedding and found out they were expecting a baby but amidst this joy, cancer rocked their family twice. “My husband’s grandad George had just retired and at 76 was looking forward to spending more time with his daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren,” Sally said. “Living in a country […]
Friendship a shining light
Even though Gael Le Breton and Sandra White both live in Cairns, they may never have met had it not been for their shared battle with lymphoma. Gael was diagnosed in 2012 while Sandra has been dealing with lymphoma for the past 15 years during which time she has had two bone marrow transplants. Both women were treated in different hospitals, however they met […]
A chance to give back
Like many of the people we help, Robert Gomes was eager to give back to the Leukaemia Foundation in appreciation of the help he received while undergoing treatment for blood cancer. The 43-year-old Telstra employee volunteers with the Leukaemia Foundation through his workplace, and recently jumped on the phones to give a very welcome thank […]
Little Tayte’s big heart in face of leukaemia battle
When four-year-old Tayte was struck down with a persistent high temperature his worried mum Kristal knew something wasn’t right. Her GP couldn’t pinpoint the exact cause of the fevers but by that afternoon her mother’s instinct told her something was very wrong with her son. With his temperature then spiking at 42 degrees she immediately […]
My toughest opponent wasn’t in the water, it was in my blood
One year ago if you’d asked 32-year-old Rob Maitland to swim 18km from Europe to Africa, he would have struggled to find the energy to even think about it. But he recently achieved what seemed impossible and is now in the history books as the 17th Australian to complete the challenging Strait of Gibraltar swim. […]
Peer support for Generation Y
People in their 20s and 30s affected by blood cancers can now benefit from their own unique support group in South East Queensland. Our Support Services Coordinators Nicole Douglas and Kate Arkadieff said they wanted to form our new 20/30 Chat to provide a relaxed environment for younger people with blood cancers to meet up, chat […]
It’s time to Light the Night
With two close family members living with blood cancer, Renee Sinton would love you to join her at one of our breathtaking Light the Night walks to help raise funds and awareness about the enormous impact of blood cancers. JOIN RENEE NOW » The highlight of this year’s special event, held across Queensland on Friday […]