When I first found out that Zach might have leukaemia, I went to the bathroom, sat on the floor, and cried.
I just kept thinking, why? How? Did I miss something? Could I have picked it up sooner?
Zach has always been such an active and busy kid, and when he started experiencing pain in both his knees, we went to multiple GP and physio appointments and had ultrasounds and x-rays. But everything came back clear. I kept pushing because I knew something wasn’t right. He was losing weight and becoming less mobile. It got to the point where he couldn’t get around without using walls or crawling. When the blood tests came back from the GP and we were sent to the emergency department, my gut feeling was confirmed.
Walking into Ronald McDonald House in Randwick, I had no idea what to expect. But from the moment we arrived, we were met with warmth and kindness. The facilities were fantastic, and the activities for kids helped break up the long days. The home-cooked meals from the corporate volunteers were such a relief.
Zach’s favourite thing about the House was when Roxy, the therapy dog, visited. He absolutely loves animals! And he also loved the After-School Crew, where he had fun activities and the chance to make new friends.
Though our journey continues, having the support of the House made all the difference. We took each day as it came, finding our new normal along the way with a little help from this wonderful place.
After 349 nights at Ronald McDonald House, we finally went home.
Since leaving Sydney, Zach has been doing really well. He was discharged from hospital on 2nd January and started the maintenance phase of treatment, taking oral chemotherapy each night.
He had a great rest of the school holidays, visiting family in Victoria—his Nana, Pop, and uncles, whom he loves very much and hadn’t seen in 18 months.
Zach returned to school at the start of the year with his new class and teacher, and he’s been thriving. He’s back to his normal, busy, active self.
We recently took a trip to the Blue Mountains and saw Nocturnal at Scenic World, which was such a special experience. He was also lucky enough to join the Driven Project again, which was an amazing experience—thank you, RMHC Sydney!
Every 6 weeks, we return to Sydney for lumbar punctures and clinic visits, as well as blood tests and telehealth appointments every 3 weeks.
But other than that, things are going well. We continue until October when his two-year treatment ends. After that, we’ll follow whatever steps the doctor advises.
I can only imagine how much work goes into keeping the House running for families like ours. It is thanks to the generous support of people like YOU that families like ours can find a safe space to stay during such difficult times. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Nicole – Zach’s mum
