Molly was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2020 when she was just four years old – a type of blood cancer affecting her blood and bone marrow. Suddenly, playgrounds and playdates were replaced with hospital beds and blood tests at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. 

Molly then

COVID-19 made receiving Molly’s diagnosis an even more challenging experience. While most of NSW was staying home, Molly’s family had to leave the security of theirs.

“Molly’s been through more in her six years of life than most people endure in a lifetime. To date, she’s undergone eight rounds of chemo and 17 general anaesthetics. I really don’t think she could have got through it without the incredible support provided by the Child Life Therapy team at the Hospital,” explained Katrina, Molly’s mum.

“Through every procedure, round of chemo, scans, and tests, someone from the team was always there right beside Molly to ensure she was in the right frame of mind and understood what was happening to her. This made a world of difference.”

Child Life Therapy helps provide a positive experience for kids in hospital. Using age-appropriate music, play and language, it can help prepare for procedures, reduce anxiety, and develop resilience and self-esteem – something so important for kids like Molly.

“I am eternally grateful to the Hospital’s Child Life Therapy department who offered Molly a source of comfort and security through this scary time. The team are experts in their field, and I don’t think you can truly understand their impact unless you’ve been in similar shoes. They’re our superstars.”

Molly now

Molly, now six years old, has finished her maintenance chemotherapy and visits the hospital every three months for check-ups. Each time, she hopes to bump into the Child Life Therapy team in the corridor, to say hello.

“We can’t thank all of the staff at the Hospital enough for their support of Molly and our whole family. Earlier this year, Molly started Kindergarten. Ever since, she has enjoyed catching up on all of the fun activities and celebrations she missed out on during treatments, like dance practice and birthday parties.”

“It’s thanks to their extraordinary support that Molly is back home where she belongs, spending time being a kid,” says Katrina.