ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY
In October 2014, Melanie and Colin welcomed beautiful baby Emily into the world. Paired with her infectious smile and ‘unruly’ brunette curls, she stole the hearts of everyone who met her.
Just two years later, Lucy was born. Their family, also consisting of Colin’s two children from a previous marriage, was finally complete and life couldn’t be better.
COLIN’S DIAGNOSIS
In 2017, life for the family turned upside down when Colin received the devastating news that he had advanced metastatic bowel cancer. Just a year after his diagnosis, there were complications with Colin’s treatment, and he passed away days before Christmas. The children lost a future with their dad, Emily, 3 years old at the time and Lucy, just 1 year old.
THE ‘NEW NORMAL’
It took a long time for the Page family to readjust to life without Colin. Things eventually started looking up for the family. Emily had started school where she learnt she loved to sing, dance and draw as well as making friends which she did with ease. Emily also adored being a big sister to Lucy, whom she had become especially close with since the passing of their dad.
In September 2021, Emily started to show some strange symptoms. Emily developed high fevers and extreme lethargy. The usual everyday activities that were once loved by the then 6-year-old, such as swimming, became a chore as Emily didn’t have the energy to keep up with the other children.
"I thought she was experiencing some post-viral malaise. I thought about taking her to the GP but thought I was overreacting. During the school holidays, she was sleeping a little longer and whilst still trying hard to engage in play, her heart just didn’t seem to be in it."
MELANIE THEN NOTICED BRUISING ON EMILY’S LIMBS, LARGER AND DARKER THAN REGULAR PLAYGROUND BRUISES. EMILY ALSO STARTED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SORE KNEES AND AFTER SHE CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL CLAIMING SHE HAD A NOSEBLEED MELANIE WAS QUICK TO CALL THE FAMILY DOCTOR TO GET EMILY CHECKED OUT.
Melanie knew something was wrong but wasn’t expecting the worst, she decided to get Emily seen as soon as possible. Melanie took her daughter to a pathology collection centre and requested some blood tests.
A few nights later, while the girls were sleeping, the phone rang and Melanie answered. The results came back, Emily had critically low haemoglobin, white cells and platelets and blast cells consistent with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, also known as ALL.
Emily was rushed into the hospital and immediately taken into the care of the doctors. They confirmed she had a high fever and critically low white cells and that her platelets, which help form blood clots to stop bleeding, were also extremely low and she was at risk of a life-threatening haemorrhage.
It was confirmed the next day that Emily had B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia starts in the bone marrow, making it hard for new B cells to form. This, in turn, affects the immune system as the B cells protect you from infections. Emily was given chemotherapy straight away. She also had to take a high dose of steroids and her life relied on daily transfusions of red blood cells and platelets.
Over the next 9 days, Emily endured a bone marrow biopsy, a lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap), hydration therapy, multiple blood transfusions/donations and other painful and invasive procedures.
The impact that this time had on Emily’s mental state was immeasurable. Melanie saw the spark leave her daughter's spirit as she could barely eat, sleep or talk during this time.
FAMILY TRAGEDY
In 2020, the family were dealt another blow. Riley’s dad Greg passed away suddenly whilst Riley was in the middle of treatment.
"Despite everything, we’re doing OK and Riley is coping well. He has monthly IV chemotherapy, and a lumbar puncture every three months so he can receive chemotherapy into his spine to treat the lumps found in his jaw and brain. Since Greg passed, my stress levels are much higher than they once were. I’m finding aspects of Riley’s treatment much more difficult than I have previously."
THE BUDDY BOX
Right now, Tammy and Riley are focusing on February 20, 2022 – the date that Riley will ring the bell at the hospital to signify the end of his treatment. However, he will still require follow up appointments to ensure nothing returns and will be monitored for the rest of his life due to his radiation.
Riley recently received a Cure Cancer Buddy Box, filled with useful items and toys to help support him through his cancer journey
‘Riley loved The Buddy Box!’ says Tammy. ‘He was delighted with the various activities, all of which are so useful to help keep him occupied whilst he’s in hospital. It’s a lovely gift for the children to receive as it takes their mind off the journey they are going through. In the beginning especially everything is so overwhelming, so to be able to have something for the children to do while you are still working things out is great.’
‘The Lego and colouring are the best, as they give me something to do while I am waiting for my treatment’, says Riley.
All profits from The Buddy Box are invested in lifesaving cancer research, in the hope that we will one day live in a world where children like Riley don’t have to experience the threat of cancer.
‘I’m incredibly aware now of the importance of cancer research. Every child reacts differently to each medication, and new, better treatments need to be discovered,’ says Tammy.
Riley agrees. ‘Research makes things that aren’t curable become curable eventually, and it can help make processes faster.’
Huge thanks to Tammy and Riley for sharing their beautiful story with us. We wish Riley all the very best in his recovery.
