Tom’s Story
When Tom was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia his mum Samantha and dad Lincoln felt as though their world was spinning. Within 24 hours of seeing their GP, Samantha and Lincoln left their hometown of Glen Innes and flew 420 kilometres with their three young children to the John Hunter Children’s Hospital so Tom could receive emergency treatment.
“We had never had to deal with cancer before and now our darling 5-year-old was fighting for his life, far from home, with an aggressive form of cancer.”
Tom needed an immediate platelet and blood transfusion and a bone marrow aspiration. The team of oncologists reassured Samantha and Lincoln that this type of leukemia had a good survival rate, but the first 28 days of intense chemotherapy would be challenging.
Tom’s treatment meant that he would be in hospital for many months to come. So, it was vital that the family be able to stay together nearby and focus on what was important, Tom’s recovery. Ronald McDonald House gave the family a home away from home so Samantha, Lincoln, Tom and his siblings Jack and Charlotte, could all remain together, just a short two-minute walk from the hospital.
Going through one of the most traumatic times of their lives, the Newcastle House was more than just a place to sleep. It gave Samantha and Lincoln the comfort and security of knowing they were just minutes away from their critically ill child in hospital.
“Meeting other parents with sick children reassured us that we were not alone. The kids receiving treatment could also relate to what each other was going through,” said Samantha.
After picking up their whole life and leaving family and friends behind, Samantha and Tom said the volunteers and staff at the House became like a surrogate family who brought a sense of comfort and normality to their life.
“Everyone was so kind and would do anything for you. Every Sunday, one of the volunteers would come in and bake cakes. The Meals from the Heart were a huge blessing. After a long day of chemo you could come back to the house and not have to worry about what was for dinner. You would always have a delicious, home cooked meal prepared for you.”
“Having somewhere we could stay together as a family so our son could receive lifesaving treatment gave us one less thing to stress about.”
To protect Tom from common colds and flus, Samantha has been home schooling him and his little brother Jack for the past three years. She says recent changes in people’s hygiene practices and the recent lockdown due to COVID-19 were already part of their everyday life.
“The boys’ teachers say we’ve got home schooling down pat. We have a good routine and things like isolation and hand sanitising have been part of our life since Tom first got sick.”
Since finishing treatment in 2019, Tom has been back to hospital once but has now made a full recovery and is doing amazingly well at home in Glen Innes.
Isolation, home-schooling and the constant fear of infection isn’t new for families who need Ronald McDonald House Charities– it’s a way of life, often for months and even years while their child is seriously ill or injured.
COVID-19 has had a significant impact, restricting our ability to raise the vital funds needed to help keep families close together. From now until 17 August, join our first ever Raise Love-a-thon and help us provide a home away from home for families in need.