Patrick was born a healthy baby in August 2020, but at just eight weeks old, his parents, Kimberley and Shane, began to notice something wasn’t quite right. Kimberley shares their family’s story,
Patrick was always grunting and his stomach was large and rock hard. Kimberley thought it might be wind, but she had this gut feeling that something was wrong.
Despite the concerns, Patrick was gaining weight as expected, and healthcare professionals initially dismissed their worries. But Kimberley’s motherly instinct persisted. One day, while feeding Patrick in the car, she noticed he was unusually stiff. That night, Kimberley and Shane took him to the emergency department.
After a series of tests, including scans and blood work, Patrick was diagnosed with neuroblastoma stage 4S. The tumour had spread to his adrenal gland and liver, taking up most of his belly.
It was a devastating shock, he was just a newborn and nothing ever showed up in my pregnancy. But I’m so grateful to the medical intern who insisted on further testing.
Patrick’s treatment was intense, involving four rounds of chemotherapy and eventually surgery to remove the primary tumour. The journey was challenging, with the first round of chemo taking a severe toll on his health. But Patrick was a fighter, and his parents were there every step of the way.
Today, Patrick is a thriving four-year-old boy in remission. He loves pre-school, playing with his older brother, and being the centre of attention.
We often joke, It’s Patrick’s world, and we just live in it!
We thank Kimberley and Shane for sharing Patrick’s story in support of Run2Cure Neuroblastoma, our annual fun run raising funds for research into this devastating disease. They hope to raise awareness and provide support to other families facing a similar diagnosis.
Help Young Children Like Patrick
Neuroblastoma Australia is working with researchers to develop more effective and less toxic treatments for all children diagnosed with neuroblastoma.
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