My Grandson’s Charity

One year ago today one of my grandsons at the age of six was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) which is a fast-growing cancer of the white blood cells.

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that the body uses to fight infections.
In ALL, the bone marrow makes lots of unformed cells called blasts that normally would develop into lymphocytes. However, the blasts are abnormal.
They do not develop and cannot fight infections. The number of abnormal cells (or Leukaemia cells) grows quickly.
They crowd out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needs.
 
We were all shocked especially as my grandson lives in New Zealand and my wife and I some of our children live in Australia and Tahiti and of course New Zealand.
 
I realise there are people that are reading this that have been in a similar situation with a loved one especially when it’s a child and are aware of how it feels. If you haven’t then I hope to God that you never will.
 
I really just couldn’t imagine what the parents must have gone though on the day!
The first thing I did was Google it, I had heard of it but needed to know more, I always check Mayo Clinics website first and even though it was thorough I needed to find statistics.
 
Then I got call from my son who explained it all plus how he would need a minimum of three years treatment, Wow! The good thing was that the success rate for curing this type of Leukaemia was very high and treatments have improved.
I really felt for my son and his wife not being there, in saying that they are wonderful and caring parent and I knew deep down they would cope.

The Reality

On the 22nd of March of this year I went to help my son and wife and spent nearly three months with them, mostly I stayed with my eldest daughter as my grandsons condition meant he is susceptible to getting ill as his immune system plummets during treatment as mentioned above.
Hygiene is so important!
 
Initially I struggled to watch the brave little boy face this challenge head on and his knowledge about what he has and the treatment, the terminology was amazing, on the occasion where I did go to hospital with him for treatment he would say “Pops this is how this works what they would do next etc” right down to the finest detail simply unbelievable!
I am sure there must be a stronger word than “BRAVE”.
 
During those visits there were other parents with younger or older children receiving treatment, I was a Medical Interpreter, Translator and Liaison for nearly 20 years and I had to cope with some very, very sad challenges.
 
But seeing my grandson and these other children with their parents was heart rendering and makes you realise how vulnerable children are, and I believe any grandparent would give their life for their grandchild if it were possible.

Support

The support for these families is amazing in New Zealand, I am so proud to say I’m a Kiwi, I’m sure there are many more countries the same.
 

A Proud Mum

This is what his mother had to say today on “facebook” today.
“He has accumulated a total of 563 beads of courage until September this year.
1 colour bead of courage = 1particular treatment
This helps him go through this ordeal, more positively.
His favourite ones = the Tortoise Bead = Lumbar puncture.
A “blessing in disguise”??

I can still remember all the very difficult treatments and side effects, and I can still visualize the chemo making its way pulse by pulse in the line to his vein.
But I most remember all the people genuinely caring for us, all the prayers that are being said from literally all around the world for Riley, uniting and reconciling people.
A “blessing in disguise “!!, He is so brave ! Smiling, having fun!! And so compassionate! I’m a very proud mum!”
 
YES!
That is thanks to his loving parents.

CHARITY

In New Zealand there is Charity called “Shave For A Cure” of course I joined and shaved my head along with my son, my 14 year old granddaughter and one of my “Brothers” Coco I was so proud that my granddaughter was willing to shave her head for her little cousin.
 
The Charity continues to grow because nearly every week there is one child diagnosed with Leukaemia and of course all donations are welcome to support them.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS CHARITY to find out more Simply Click Here…

 
Or if you wish to support a CHARITY for Leukeamia in Children please do it, wherever you reside every penny counts.
 
I Thank You for taking the time to read this.
 
To all those families with children who have or have had cancer, “BON COURAGE” and may GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

A SPECIAL THANKS

I would like to especially thank all those who donated to my “Shave For A Cure”
 
Also a very special thanks to my grandaughter CHANEL who at 14 years of age was willing to shave her hair I am so proud of her.

List Of Honour

 
Brigitte
 
Kenjii
 
Karine
 
Guy
 
Coco et Moe
 
Kate
 
Erwina
 
Tiare
 
Veroarii
 
Anthony & Melissa his parents
 
Christine and Daniel his maternal grandparents
 
BJAN
 
Vehia
 
Laryssa and Cameron
If I left anyone out I apologise profusely!

Maururu Thank You Merci and God Bless You All

Give or kids a chance!
Paul Mara
 
PS
 
I will be posting this on all my blogs if you happen to come across it again, it’s for a wonderful cause!