Adrienne's family cancer journey

Adrienne took her three-year-old daughter Georgia to the doctor after noticing she was extremely pale and had consistent high fevers.

“I had to take her to the emergency room that evening,” Adrienne explains. “Within an hour the diagnosis came back – she had leukaemia.”

That first night in the hospital, seeing Georgia hooked up to machines, was really confronting.

I could not believe that my child had cancer, this was not meant to be our story. We were totally overwhelmed with information and what needed to be done to help her survive.

We lived five minutes from the hospital and had friends and family to provide support and we were grateful for that. I saw a lot of regional people in the ward and they were on another level of stress. Some of them had to give up their jobs, or live apart from their families.

Georgia received the ‘standard’ treatment for the type of Leukaemia she had and after eight months of treatment things seemed to be going to plan. However, not long after Adrienne noticed an issue with Georgia’s right eye.

“After tests, the medical team came back to us with the news that she had relapsed. We knew we were in serious trouble then,” says Adrienne. “The words are so strong – ‘cancer’, ‘leukaemia’. Nobody understands unless you’re in it, or have been through it.”

Georgia’s case was classified as “high risk” and her treatment needed to be more aggressive. Adrienne describes the next round of treatment and the time spent in hospital as “beyond a nightmare.”

National cancer charity Redkite was there to offer support.

“My first connection with Redkite was the Red Bag. It’s perfect,” explains Adrienne. We also had some assistance with groceries and petrol too, which was great and very much appreciated.”

After a long and arduous time Georgia was released from hospital following a bone marrow transplant.

“Going home without our ‘pit crew’ was scary,” Adrienne explains. “There were no doctors, nurses, social workers nor music therapists to help us out, and we couldn’t socialise at all because of the risk of infection.”

Thankfully Georgia is now in Year 1 at school and enjoying it.

“She’s so much stronger in body and mind, has made lots of friends, and even got up in front of the class to tell her story”, says Adrienne proudly. “She’s happy, strong, cheeky, and spirited.”

About Redkite:
Redkite is an Australian charity supporting the emotional, financial and educational needs of children and young people with cancer aged up to 24 years and their families. To learn more visit here.

20 Comments

- - mom101628 said
  - 22 Feb 2017
    10:13 pm
So pleased I buy this bread at Coles – feel I am helping in some small way.

- - mom81879 said
  - 21 Nov 2015
    1:30 pm
Sounds like RedKite do a great job with helping families of sick children. I hope your little girl is doing ok……

- - smiles said
  - 30 Apr 2015
    8:34 pm
So glad your little girl is better. It’s when you are in these situations that you come across charities that you had never heard of like redkite that help a lot of people out.

- - mom108638 said
  - 01 Apr 2015
    10:03 pm
it is great to know that there is support out there. thank you for sharing your story

- - mom113055 said
  - 19 Mar 2015
    7:01 pm
looks great

- - mom113991 said
  - 18 Mar 2015
    11:08 pm
its great that there are some awesome charities out there to assist in tough times for families. Im so sorry to hear about your daughter

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 28 Feb 2015
    7:57 pm
What an amazing charity. So sorry you had to go through this journey. I give only to selective charities, but I recently bought a whole box of the fund raiser chocolates @ $50 and shared them with my work mates, because the cause (it was in aid of two men riding for cancer) is close to my heart.

- - mom94125 said
  - 21 Feb 2015
    11:36 pm
wow definately will support this charity. incredible journey

- - pakeko said
  - 19 Feb 2015
    4:17 pm
Wow had never heard of them, what a great thing they are doing

- - christial said
  - 17 Feb 2015
    8:15 am
I’ve heard of red kite but never really knew what they did… Thanks for letting me know of this great cause!

- - june11 said
  - 14 Feb 2015
    11:48 pm
I am sure that I have seen Red Kite printed at the top on the front of some of my Coles Shopping Dockets in Adelaide. I will have to check if Coles are sponsoring them in some way
- mom124798 replied
  
  16 Feb 2015 , 10:22 am
  Hi June11,
  
  You’re right that you have seen Redkite on your receipt at Coles. Since Australia Day 2013, Coles team members and customers have raised $12.3 million so more families facing cancer can receive essential support. To find out more about how Coles are supporting children and young people, visit http://www.redkite.org.au/coles.
  
  Warm regards,
  
  The Redkite team
- - mom105503 said
  - 14 Feb 2015
    2:37 pm
Wow, what a strong little girl you have, thankyou for sharing your story to help raise awareness. I had heard of Redkite but I wasn’t fully aware of how they functioned and the support they offered. As a rural family who has made many medical trips to the city I can see how valuable this help would be.
- Redkite replied
  
  16 Feb 2015 , 4:14 pm
  Thank you for sharing your kind thoughts. You’re right about how important it is to spread the word about cancer in children and young people, and the support that’s available to them and their families. We’re glad this has helped you understand how we are able to help/
- - Arielsworld said
  - 14 Feb 2015
    9:20 am
Such a tough journey to got on. So glad Georgia is doing well now.

- - ashblonde said
  - 13 Feb 2015
    3:15 pm
Thankyou for sharing your journey, Georgia has certainly been a brave little girl & I trust she remains “happy strong cheeky & spirited” I now understand & admire how Redkite makes life a bit easier for the families that need their help.
- Redkite replied
  
  16 Feb 2015 , 4:12 pm
  Thank you for your kind comment about the ways we can help families facing cancer. We’re so grateful to Adrienne for sharing her story to spread the word about the support we are able to provide, so no family has to face cancer alone.
- - Alicia said
  - 13 Feb 2015
    12:29 pm
Stay strong little one, Enjoy being home with your family and friends XXX

- - mom109463 said
  - 13 Feb 2015
    8:46 am
Thankyou for this article, I was unaware that redkite were involved in this way and will actively look to make contributions and donations to this cause, I am pleased that you got assistance when required and understood that people who do not live close by area at a great disadvantage and that this does affect the outcome for the patient. I hope your daughter continues to enjoy good health and your family have a lovely peaceful life.
- Redkite replied
  
  16 Feb 2015 , 4:09 pm
  Thank you very much for your comment. We are so appreciative of your support. If you’d like to find out more about how we can help families facing cancer, please visit http://www.redkite.org.au.