💔 “If I didn’t do it, he would die. And if I did do it, and it failed, he’d die.” 🎙️ In our latest episode of Talking Blood Cancer, we hear from Prue and Chase. Chase is Prue's son, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) at just four years old. He endured months of treatment and a life-saving stem cell transplant, with Prue as his rare 100% match donor. In 2022, Chase finally rang the bell to mark the end of treatment 🔔 Prue shares how the Leukaemia Foundation supported her family while they travelled 1,300km from Townsville to Brisbane for Chase’s care, providing a home, guidance and comfort during the toughest of times 💙 This podcast is for anyone seeking strength, resilience, and hope in the face of blood cancer. (fb)

🤩 Ashleigh Bell, our Melbourne-based Supportive Care Case Manager, has proudly shared her personal connection to blood cancer in the latest edition of Woman's Day. At the age of 11, Ash began experiencing back pain, which was initially dismissed as growing pains. 🩸 After the pain got worse and she lost her ability to walk, an X-ray showed she had a crushed vertebra. This led to a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer. 🗣️ “I overheard the doctor tell Mum and Dad that I had cancer. I remember being in a lot of pain, lying in bed and not being able to move. I was watching that happen, seeing the impact on my family and thinking, ‘Am I going to die?’" 🏥 Ash was transferred to the cancer ward at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and immediately began chemotherapy, which lasted over two years. Ash transitioned from primary to high school while navigating chemotherapy, hair loss and extra precautions to protect her immune system. “It shocks me how much school I missed. Getting my report card for my first year of high school and failing most of my subjects, just because of attendance, felt awful.” Ash finally finished treatment when she was 13 and was told to ‘go be a normal kid’. But she didn’t know what ‘normal’ felt like. “I still felt like a little girl. I loved playing with dolls and all those things. Returning to normal was hard. I really struggled with that.” A couple of years after achieving remission and graduating from high school, Ash decided to pursue a career in social work. She’s now a Supportive Care Case Manager at the Leukaemia Foundation 💙 "It’s been super special and healing sharing how my personal experience led me to work at the Leukaemia Foundation supporting people and their families navigating blood cancer. “To be here and be supporting people with blood cancer is the best thing ever. I’m so happy. 11-year-old me would be so proud of me!” Cancer care isn’t just about treatment. It’s about identity, support and life. If you’d like blood cancer support, visit our website or connect with our team of Healthcare Professionals on 1800 620 420 📞 (fb)