Our strong brave two-year-old Nina is courageously battling leukemia. We call it the “blood monsters”— our way of helping her and her big brother, Noah, understand her fight.

The news of Nina’s leukemia was incredibly difficult to accept. In the moment of heartbreak and disbelief, I asked if there was a chance there was a mistake. The oncology team carefully reviewed her blood four times. Unfortunately, this is reality. Whilst treatment may take six months to three years, we are hopeful she will beat the blood monsters soon.

It was Nina’s remarkable intuition that led to discovering these blood monsters. In the two weeks prior, Nina was getting a bit paler and lethargic and thought it was a reaction to antibiotics she had started for a UTI. So, I took Nina in for a standard GP appointment on a Tuesday with the outcome being a referral for blood tests on that Friday. However, that Thursday - Day #0 - she had decided she needed a “little rest” and as she had a fever, I simply thought it was the panadol and her sleeping it off. When she woke up, she was the one who asked me to go to the doctor, saying words that are now engraved in my heart:

“Mama, me very sick. Me need to go to the doctor.”

Despite having an appointment for blood tests the next day, I did not question her as she’s always had great self- intuition. After giving her father a call per her request that “dadda” be at the hospital too, her brother and I quickly got into the car and rushed her to the Emergency Department. After a long night, the local hospital gave us the initial suspected possible diagnoses which led to Nina being transferred via ambulance to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Then, Day #1 commenced and Nina started treatment right away.

Through the initial diagnosis and treatment, Nina has been such a strong, brave, and patient little girl. Under general anaesthetic, she has had multiple lumbar punctures, extractions of bone marrow and intrathecal chemotherapy to treat the factory of blood monsters. She regularly has oral medication to combat the blood monsters along with blood transfusions and intravenous chemotherapy via her central line - what we call the noodles that help beat the blood monsters. Her blood tests have made improvements after the first few procedures and we are hopeful they will continue to improve.

Nina has always had this uncanny awareness of her own body, even at two years old, and her courage has guided us from the very start. Nina is fierce, radiant, and held by God’s grace:

“God is within her, she will not fall.” — Psalm 46:5

Even in her hardest moments, Nina’s spirit shines. People often ask if she’s really two—she’s tall, chatty, full of personality, and bright as can be during this challenging time. She’s made the Oncology team chuckle with her personality. One nurse best compared this stage - Block 1 of treatment - as pregnancy hormones times 10! She goes through ups, downs and all arounds often with an immense appetite and cravings that we are lucky we have been able to fulfill so far.

Though her father and I are separated, we are doing the best we can to help her every step of this journey while caring for Noah and keeping life as steady as possible. I am grateful the oncology team educated me and made me confident in administering her many medications at home now that we have been discharged. While we will continue to travel to and from the Oncology Clinic regularly, being at home and about half an hour away from the Oncology Clinic has made this process slightly less heavy. We’ve been blessed to have Abuelita here from California helping with care for Noah, making meals and helping me with the required sanitation for the cytotoxic periods. As treatment intensifies—especially during chemo weeks—we will continue to need extra support.

While Australia’s healthcare system is incredible, the cost of living in Sydney and the many extra expenses of treatment—travel, medicines, additional care, comfort items, and assistance with daily care—create a heavy financial strain. While we stay positive and take every day as it comes, we are well aware that this will be a long journey and we kindly ask for your help.

Your generosity helps us focus fully on Nina’s healing and Noah’s wellbeing. Every contribution brings us closer to the day when Nina can proudly say she defeated the blood monsters with your help.

With love and faith,

Nina’s hopeful, optimistic Mama