Cadia Children's Cancer Awareness Month

By Adrian Isbill

CCAM Our Story

There is a saying that “When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family is diagnosed with cancer”. I can vouch that the family suffers immensely, but no one suffers the torture the child does. It’s a different suffering.
On the 19th of December 2019 our son George, known rightly as George the Brave was diagnosed with High-Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (HRALL) later upgraded to Very High Risk. He was just 14 months of age, our first born and our baby.
He was airlifted after transfusions from Broken Hill to Adelaide, while I drove from Roxby Downs to meet him at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. With no idea what lay ahead, or where to start.

George was very often sick as a child with throat infections, chest infections, frequently upset and he stopped walking altogether. Later finding out this was due to the pain from the sheer amount of Leukemic cells within his femurs and marrow.

Our journey has been tough, every families is. It’s a whirlwind and treatment starts immediately! What followed was:
•2.5 years of chemotherapy
•Over 30 drugs administered
•Sedated more times than I can remember for bone marrow biopsies, surgery and lumbar punctures to administer chemo into his cerebral spinal fluid.
•Blood transfusions
•And all of this through the peak of COVID19 where both parents were often not allowed in hospital at the same time and our families could not come to support
•Living away from home near the hospital for over 12 months

As a parent the pain of watching your child suffer is torturous beyond words, it truly breaks your heart.

We have witnessed many other families endure this same torture. But we have also witnessed the heroic strength, resilience and immense toughness of these children that fight this horrible disease every day.

I vividly recall George’s Oncologist telling us that we are in this world now and need to fight, also with the type, and genetic makeup of his cancer we had basically won cancer lotto. With an estimated chance of not relapsing of 80% and a 50/50 chance of survival should he relapse. That was hard to comprehend.
On reflection and after this journey, believe me when I say, I am absolutely convinced he was right. We won the lotto! So many other cancer treatments are significantly more intense, survival rates can be far lower, today we still have our son, and he is in remission. Many children die.

I can’t ignore the positives of this journey. As a family the strength, resilience, appreciation and purpose we now have is a result of Childhood Cancer. We appreciate the life lessons it has and continues to give us.

George turns 6 on the 25th of September. This is the first time since the midst of treatment that more than half his life has been cancer and chemo free.

I’m not sharing part of our story for pity, compassion or personal recognition. I’m sharing this because if through awareness, fundraising or early intervention I can save a single tear from another child then there is no better purpose!

If I can ask three things of everyone:

1.Read one article, story or charity page on Children’s Cancer. Find a quiet place, let it sink in. A suggestion and dear friends of ours: Charlie's Rainbow 2024 | Chuffed | Non-profit charity and social enterprise fundraising
2.Tell someone about it, don't let the discussion stop until a cure is found!
3.Be grateful and appreciate the little things in life

Thanks!
Adrian, Kathryn, George and Adaline

Let's raise funds for Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation!

Let's support an amazing organisation.

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation supports Australia's leading paediatric health services, offering a safe and friendly healing environment for children from NSW and beyond. 

Thank you to my Supporters

$2k

Fendley Consultancy

Wishing you and the family all the best for the future. A privilege to support a worthy cause.

$1.02k

Newmont Corporation

$520

Vicki Lovick

$520

Candice Shaw

Great awareness and fundraising efforts!

$300

Glenard Civil Contractors

$158.25

Tom Lukeman

The least I could do to help.

$105.50

Leigh Vardanega

$105.50

Anonymous

$105.50

Troy Slapp

$105.50

Brendon Tamati

Great cause

$105.50

Cristian Orrego

$105.50

Peter Stonestreet

$54

Monique Faul

Thanks for sharing your story and I hope the whole family is doing ok

$52.75

John Bostjancic

$52.75

Dodge Boribor

Thank you for doing this awareness boss

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Anonymous

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David Coe

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Tom Moriarty

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Justin Donohue

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Arya Gao

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Andrew Homes

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Renea Meacham

Good work Adrian :) Great cause

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Andrew Shaper

Wishing you all the best

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Hope this helps

$52.75

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$46

Maddison Ives

$31.65

Max Hunter

$31.65

James Ross

$31.65

Dilif Tripura

$31.65

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$26.38

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$26.38

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$26.38

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$26.38

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Brett Kearins

Great job mate.

$26.38

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$25

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$21.10

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James

Good luck buddy!

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Charles Garant

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James Ross

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$15.82

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Braidey Miller

Best wishes and support 🙏

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Anonymous

I'll be praying for your family. Be strong mate.

$10.55

Ningning Jiang

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Mitch Kelly

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Rodney Williams

Thanks for organising champion

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Gabriel Amorer

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