Hello, we are Brett and Nicole the parents of 3 year old Dakota. Dakota was recently diagnosed with Leukemia, after months of respiratory illness that Dakota could not recover from. A month into her illness Dakota was diagnosed with pneumonia we thought we had finally found some answers. Dakota's health continued to decline, she had no stamina, she became very emotional and clingy and just wanted to be with her Mum. One Friday prior to Easter I took Dakota to the emergency department of the Queensland Children's Hospital. Within hours she was diagnosed with B-ALL (Leukemia) and our world changed forever. Her blood counts were so dangerously low that she required 2 blood transfusions over the weekend. Then commenced treatment on the Monday.

We were very hesitant to start a GoFundMe page. However in recent weeks Dakota had unexpected seizures, a blood clot was found on her brain. This was a side effect of one of her initial chemotherapy treatments. Dakota was initially unable to speak and loss the use of her right arm. She is slowly regaining strength and movement to her right arm however she still needs to learn to stand and walk again.

Dakota’s treatment journey will continue for approximately 2.5 years and involves ongoing chemotherapy, hospital admissions, emergency visits, and regular appointments at Queensland Children’s Hospital. Since her diagnosis, our lives have quickly become centred around hospital stays and ensuring Dakota has the care and support she needs throughout treatment.

The funds raised will help ease some of the financial pressure that comes with time away from work, ongoing medical and hospital-related expenses, and caring for an immunocompromised child who is unable to return to daycare for the foreseeable future. Most importantly, it will allow us to focus our time and energy on Dakota and her recovery.

Dakota is an intelligent, kind, happy and loving little girl. We want to do everything we can to get her through this time with as much love, happiness and positivity as we can.

Whilst we are the ones in need of support at present, once we are in a better position we also want to support all the amazing charities around the Queensland Children's Hospital and Childhood Cancer charities and supports that have been there for us also. Thank you for supporting us through this journey.