Archie first came to The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) for a seemingly simple routine check-up. Hours later, the family were left with heartbreaking news; their two-year-old son had cancer.
Aside from a recent fever while on holiday, Archie had shown no signs of illness.
“He was perfectly fine, he had a fever for one or two days, but there was really nothing to be too concerned about. Fortunately, the doctor suggested that we get his blood taken at the RCH,” shared Terry, Archie’s dad.
However, it was not until Terry and his wife, Monica, stood in front of the clinicians at the RCH that they even considered the possibility of cancer.
“After we got Archie’s blood taken, we got a call asking us to come back immediately. At that point, we started to get a little bit worried, but we were still not thinking it was cancer,” Terry explained.
“A few hours later, we were told that our son had leukemia,” he continued.
This news overwhelmed Terry and Monica. Both of them could not help but feel terrified about what this diagnosis meant for their child’s future.
“Your mind instantly goes to worst-case scenario. But then when it came to actually finding out the type of leukemia Archie had, we instantly got the feeling from everyone involved that we’re in good hands, and that we’re going to be OK,” Terry highlighted.
The two-year-old was found to have acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a cancer that affects the bone marrow and the blood. Treatment for this condition can last for two and a half years, Archie is currently six months into his treatment journey.
Since the toddler’s diagnosis, Terry has found the RCH and its staff to have been a great source of support. The parents could not be more grateful for the expertise and compassion that they have been shown by the hospital staff.
Terry, Archie and Monica
“I can’t speak highly enough of the RCH staff. The attention, the care, how they made me, and Monica feel – it has all been amazing. The entire experience has been overwhelmingly positive,” he shared.
“I don’t give praise lightly and it’s been phenomenal. Everything has been faultless, and I know we’re not done yet, but their support has made everything so much easier,” Terry reinforced.
Terry and Monica are also incredibly grateful for the donors who so generously support the RCH to provide world-class care to its patients – including their son, Archie, who is now thriving.
Earlier this year, Archie was at the hospital every 10 days for treatment. Today, those visits have been reduced to just once a month. While the two-year-old still receives oral chemotherapy and undergoes the occasional procedure, the family are incredibly excited to see him enjoy his childhood more fully.
Through it all, Archie has consistently shown incredible resilience, with the two-year-old being known for his energy, amazing dance moves, and joy.