By Charlene Macaulay
A Williams Landing family has charted their daughter’s cancer battle in a new book celebrating national cancer charity Redkite.
Little Bella was only four years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. What followed was two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy.
Then, only eight months after finishing treatment, Bella suffered a relapse and needed more high-dose chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant to save her life.
Last week, she celebrated the one-year anniversary of her transplant and is doing well.
Mum Vanie said the Royal Children’s Hospital put the family in touch with Redkite, which offered her the financial support to be in hospital with Bella 24/7.
“With only my husband’s income to live on, we were fortunate that Redkite paid our car registration and some of our bills,” Vanie said.
“They also offered us vouchers for Coles groceries and fuel. It greatly eased the financial pressures.
“We felt very grateful and really supported with Redkite.”
The family was chosen to share their story in a new ebook, the 30 Faces of Redkite, which recognises both the people behind, and recipients of, Redkite, which has provided support to thousands of young Australians with cancer for more than 30 years.
Redkite chief executive Monique Keighery said: “It is the stories of people such as the Nagashima family that inspire us to be on the front line to … keep families afloat during a time of great distress.”
View the ebook at www.redkite30faces.org.au
