A mother-of-two who was told by doctors her son was fine has been left devastated after learning the toddler has an aggressive bone cancer.
Chayse Gannon was just three weeks shy of his third birthday when he was flown from his home in small town Bega, in New South Wales, to Sydney Children’s Hospital.
He was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia and started chemotherapy the next morning.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common childhood cancer. It occurs when a bone marrow cell develops errors in its DNA.
His mother, Graycen Gannon, 23, had feared something was seriously wrong with her young son 18 months earlier as he was covered in bruises and slept all the time.
But doctors assured her he didn’t have leukaemia.
Chayse Gannon (pictured with his mum Graycen) was just three weeks shy of his third birthday when he was flown from his home in small town Bega, in New South Wales, to Sydney Children’s Hospital
He was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia and started chemotherapy the next morning. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common childhood cancer. It occurs when a bone marrow cell develops errors in its DNA
By the time doctors discovered his cancer, little Chayse had cancer in 96 per cent of his bone marrow and 16 per cent in his blood cells.
Ms Gannon told Daily Mail Australia it was bitter sweet finally getting the diagnosis.
She said it was a relief to know what was wrong with her son so treatment could start but gut-wrenching knowing how long it had taken for him to finally be diagnosed.
‘I’m annoyed it wasn’t picked up earlier.
‘The doctor said to me that my son didn’t have leukaemia, but then about 45 minutes later another doctor told me he might have it.’
The past ten months have been incredibly challenging for the family.
Chayse required six months of aggressive chemotherapy and 18 months on maintenance – meaning two years of treatment.
However, his time spent undergoing aggressive chemotherapy has been set back after a number of complications, including a rare reaction to one of the drugs.
During the first three months of his treatment he was unable to leave Sydney Children’s Hospital, so Chayse and his mother remained in the city while his dad Dan and younger brother, 14-month-old Cohen, remained in Bega.
During the first three months of his treatment he was unable to leave Sydney Children’s Hospital, so Chayse and his mother remained in the city his dad Dan (pictured) and younger brother Cohen remained in Bega
The past ten months have been incredibly challenging for the family. Chayse required six months of aggressive chemotherapy and 18 months on maintenance – meaning two years of treatment
The couple, who try to see each other once a fortnight, have also been struggling to make ends meet.
‘It’s been hard, it’s upsetting being away from my youngest son and my husband,’ Ms Gannon said.
‘The hardest part is being away from home and so far away from my immediate support system.
‘I’ve been quite alone.’
She said the emotional and financial toll has been indescribable for both herself and her husband.
Ms Gannon and Chayse spent the first few months staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Randwick but if they spend three nights away, they forfeit the room and have to go back on the waiting list.
Chayse and his mother were then having to fly between Sydney and Bega every few days for treatment, which was taking a toll on his little body.
After a tumultuous few months moving around, trying to find somewhere they could stay for longer than three nights at a time, Ms Gannon said she had a breakdown and decided it would be easier to find somewhere to rent in Sydney while Chayse undergoes his intense treatment.
By the time doctors discovered his cancer, little Chayse had cancer in 96 per cent of his bone marrow and 16 per cent in his blood cells
Despite the help, the family still has a long road ahead of them. For them, they rarely look to the future though – they just focus on each day as it come
‘The only place he knew was a hospital bed, because everywhere else was so different each time.
‘It was really, really hard for us.’
Because they were eligible for the Ronald McDonald House they weren’t able to access funds from the Leukaemia Foundation.
Eventually she found an apartment in Coogee to rent for $5,000 a month but they have to rely on family to help cover the cost.
They have also had help from donations raised through a fundraising page, which was set up by a family friend.
Despite the help, the family still has a long road ahead of them. Chayse has about one month left of the aggressive chemotherapy before he starts maintenance.
For them, they rarely look to the future though – they just focus on each day as it come.
‘We never know what to expect with Chayse … we’re just slowly working towards our goal of bringing him home,’ Mr Gannon said.