Stories
Three children are diagnosed with cancer every week. Read some of their stories.
Student who faced child cancer is giving back by volunteering
A bright and outgoing young year 13 student, it’s hard to believe that Petra Hancock once faced life-threatening cancer.
Outpost 42
It’s not often that the ‘bad guys’ do good. In Outpost 42’s case, it’s what they do best!
Tuiono-Pouao whānau
Their family was supported by Child Cancer Foundation when their seven year old daughter Iris was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. Sadly, the bubbly little girl passed away just five months after being diagnosed.
What does it feel like to be the sibling of a child with cancer?
Charlotte is the older sister of Olivia Courtney who was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in 2017 when she was 11 years old. Charlotte is 17 years old and attends Villa Maria College in Christchurch.
When cancer strikes not just once, but twice, in an Auckland family
In 2008, the Coulam family had to support their nine-year-old son Zavier through Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). Fortunately, Zavier survived and in 2017 his nine year old brother Logan was also diagnosed with Burkitt’s Leukaemia.
Sydnee's Story
It was February 2017 and Sydnee’s mum Amanda Clifford was on a cruise to celebrate her Mother’s 75th birthday when she received the news that Sydnee was sick.
A late night knock on the door that turned an Auckland family’s world upside down
A recurring fever attributed to a harmless childhood virus led to a late night knock on the door from emergency services that would turn a young family’s world upside down.
An Auckland family gets a diagnosis they weren’t expecting to their 9 year old’s health issues
...It finally became apparent why Riley had been so ill. He had a large tumour in the middle of his head, near his pituitary gland which was creating pressure on his brain and eye nerves and was blocking the flow of brain fluid around his ventricles.
Te Houkurareo's Story
Te Houkurareo was an active, happy toddler. The youngest of seven siblings, he thoroughly enjoyed attending Te Kōhanga Reo. One day, things changed. Te Houkurareo started having high fevers and his legs were sore. No one realised how sick he really was.
The Swann family learns to cope with their loss through helping others
Grayson was the only son of Angela and Miles Swann and brother to sisters Erika, Lexi and Izabella. He was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in August 2017 at the age of three and started chemotherapy treatment almost immediately.