Oli's Story
When Oli was just four years old, his mum Kelly and Dad Joel noticed he had started to limp. His limp got so bad over a couple of weeks he was unable to walk up the stairs properly. Very concerned at this development, Oli was taken to his GP for a check-up. While an x-ray didn’t show any fractures or broken bones, his GP could tell something wasn’t right, so he sent Oli to the children’s hospital for blood tests.
Oli, Kelly and Joel shared takeaway sushi for dinner as they anxiously awaited the results. When a doctor and nurse entered the room the young family were waiting in, Kelly knew instantly it was bad news.
“The nurse suggested Oli go outside with her to play for a bit…Somehow I knew at that moment they were about to tell us Oli had leukaemia. I still can’t explain it to this day, but I just knew.”
In an instant, their whole life changed. It became life before leukaemia and life after leukaemia. Kelly was five months pregnant and they also had two year old Belle. They couldn’t wrap their heads around Oli’s diagnosis, and how they would get through…but they knew they had to.
Oli’s treatment began the day after his diagnosis. A port was inserted into his chest and intensive chemo was administered through this port. Over the next 24 months Oli had three more surgeries, 15 months of intensive chemo and 9 months of maintenance chemo. Treatment stopped after 24 months as that’s the maximum level of toxicity his little body could handle.
Kelly and Joel got through this time in function mode – for them it was fight or flight. They didn’t have time to stop, they just needed to get through, and be there for their little boy.
Oli’s diagnosis and treatment came at a critical time for his social and educational development. Instead of heading off to kindy three times a week to learn and play with his friends, Oli was in hospital, fighting off this insidious disease.
Oli missed an entire year of preschool and all of term one prep. He was able to return to prep for term two, but another wave of COVID hit and NSW was sent into lockdown. As Oli’s immune system was so weak, his parents made the tough decision to home-school him for the remainder of 2021.
Kelly describes Oli as a “kid who loves to learn. Oli loves reading and loves the world – he spends a lot of time looking through kids’ encyclopaedias.” While Oli wasn’t able to attend his regular classroom, thankfully he had access to amazing educators while in hospital – funded by Fight Cancer Foundation.
Oli had one-on-one lessons with Trisha and Jan and he also had weekly virtual lessons which were a lifesaver during COVID-19 lockdowns. Kelly explains
“It kept his brain stimulated in a way that really only school can do. For kids Oli’s age who have bad days, but have fine days and were stuck in hospital, it was so good to have someone come along and stimulate his brain as if he was in school.”
“The education program also provided a sense of normalcy for Oli…and it was great having something that focused on the fact Oli would get through cancer, and we eventually need to go back to school.”
We are thrilled to share Oli has completed his treatment and returned to the classroom at the beginning of term two.
By hosting a Footy Colours Day event and raising funds, you will help other kids with cancer, just like Oli. Register today.
