Rohan - Facing the realities of a Leukaemia diagnosis

Every child with Leukaemia has a story, this is mine…

My name is Rohan, I am 16 years old and a month ago, I was an active and healthy kid. I had just gotten my Learner’s Permit, I was in the Rugby 7s Specialisation Program at school, I played Union for the GPS Rugby Club, undertaking my Cert III in Sport Coaching, and starting an Electrician Apprenticeship while completing Year 11. I am an outdoor person, I love fishing, camping, and motorbike riding. I was also actively looking for a job to save for my first car.

In the blink of an eye, this all changed. I was feeling unwell, dizzy, fevers, headache, and pale, so Mum took me to the GP thinking I had a virus. Eight hours later, on 17 Mar 25, we were told that I had B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Me? Cancer? What the? Over the course of the next 24 hours, I received six blood transfusions and started chemo three days later. These words weren’t in my vocabulary – bone marrow aspiration, lumbar puncture, central nervous system, immune compromised, daunorubicin, vincristine, ondansetron, prednisolone, and so on. Sadly, now they are, I wish they weren’t. But I am focused on my treatment plan and getting better, it just means that my life is kind of on pause while I take a knee from rugby, not get a job, and delay my apprenticeship.

In the meantime, there are a few things that help me escape the sometimes scary reality, make me happy, and help me feel like my old ‘normal’ self. I love getting out and practicing driving to get my licence in a year. I’d love to take some driving lessons. I’d love to be able to save for a car when that day comes. I miss rugby, and I’d love to do a referee course to keep me in the game, without getting injured. I also love my marine aquarium that allows me to zone out when I’m feeling unwell or overwhelmed. I’d love to be able to add to my tank – fish, rocks, coral, water, without burdening my parents with this cost. I remain obsessed with fishing, tying flies and lures, and casting a line out. Getting outside is healing in itself!

Mum and Dad have taken a lot of time off work to be by my side. While my treatment is covered by the health system, the range of medications are not and there are many other costs associated as well. Enough that I’d like to be able to help my parents, by not asking them for the money for these extra things that I know will help get me through treatment and beyond. So instead, I’m asking you for your generosity in contributing to support my wellbeing while undergoing treatment. I also vouch to donate 10% of the money donated to me, to the Leukaemia Foundation who provide a lot of information and support to families going through this.

If you’re unable to donate money, please donate blood! It saved my life!

RBW XXX