‘Cancer at any age is terrible, but cancer in your child is truly awful.' Help find a cure for childhood cancer!
When we found out we were expecting our first child, we were overjoyed. We had recently married, moved to Canberra, and bought our first home. However, at 28 weeks into my pregnancy, we discovered that our baby, Zoe, had a 10-centimeter tumour near her tailbone, believed to be benign.
Despite the initial shock, we were reassured that surgery could remove the tumour. We relocated to Sydney for specialized care, and Zoe was born via emergency C-section at 37 weeks. However, the tumour was not what we expected. It was on Zoe's leg, encompassing her entire right thigh and accounting for 40% of her body weight. Zoe underwent an immediate amputation of her right leg to save her life.
Just when it seemed Zoe was recovering, small bumps appeared on her back. Tests revealed she had stage IV alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. Zoe began chemotherapy at less than two weeks old, showing remarkable resilience.
Tragically, just before Christmas, further scans revealed that the cancer had spread to Zoe's brain, and it was untreatable. We moved to Bear Cottage, a palliative care facility, to spend precious time with Zoe. We cherished every moment, creating lasting memories until Zoe passed away at 11 weeks old.
To read further on our story please click here - Zoe's Story | Sacrococcygeal Teratoma | Children's Cancer Institute (ccia.org.au)
Our experience has shown us the urgent need for better treatments for childhood cancers. We are asking for your support to help bring hope to families facing similar battles and to honour Zoe's legacy.
For my beautiful Zoe xx