After beating cancer once, Dylan is fighting again. Help give him every possible chance at a brighter future
Queenstown, Otago
In January 2024, just days before his third birthday, Chris and Vanessa's son Dylan was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer that changed their lives forever.
Dylan is a funny little boy with a wicked sense of humour and a smile that lights up every room. He loves cars and has an incredible head for numbers.
Over the following 16 months, Dylan underwent chemotherapy, major surgery, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Through every challenge, he showed remarkable courage and resilience.
When treatment ended, his family finally allowed themselves to hope again. Dylan returned to the simple joys of childhood – playing with friends, spending time with family and starting school.
Then, in May, they received the devastating news that Dylan's cancer had returned.
Relapsed neuroblastoma is an aggressive disease with limited treatment options in New Zealand. Dylan has begun treatment again while his medical team explores overseas clinical trials and specialist treatment opportunities.
After nearly two years of fighting this disease, the emotional and financial burden on the family has become immense. They now face ongoing treatment and travel costs while focusing on getting Dylan the care he needs.
Every donation raised will help support Dylan's treatment journey and give him every possible chance. Most importantly, it will help this brave little boy continue making memories and finding joy.
Email: supportdylanqt@gmail.com if organizing a fundraising event.
Chris and Vanessa are long-time friends and much-loved members of the Queenstown community. They are devoted parents who have faced every challenge with strength, courage and love for Dylan.
Funds will help cover treatment, travel, accommodation and living costs while Dylan and his family pursue specialist treatment and clinical trial opportunities. Updates will be provided as plans become clearer.
A very special update on Dylan ❤️ 21 August 2026
We’ve had some incredible news — Dylan’s latest scans have shown no evidence of disease. After everything he has been through, we couldn’t have hoped for a better result.
There is still a very small amount of minimal residual disease in his bone marrow, so while we are incredibly hopeful about his scans, we know there is still work to do. His doctors are monitoring this closely as treatment continues.
We had been preparing to travel to Sydney for further treatment, but given how incredibly well Dylan has responded, we have decided to put those plans on hold. After a consultation with a neuroblastoma specialist in Barcelona, we have been advised to continue with his current treatment rather than make immediate changes.
Dylan will continue treatment over the coming months, with the goal of giving him the strongest possible chance of staying in remission and clearing the remaining disease. We are also looking ahead, with the hope of eventually accessing a clinical trial in the United States if the right opportunity becomes available.
For now, we are taking a moment to celebrate this incredible milestone and let Dylan enjoy being a five-year-old again. ❤️
The support everyone has given our family means more than we can put into words. Every donation, share, message and kind thought has helped us through some of the hardest months of our lives.
Thank you for continuing to stand beside Dylan and our family. ❤️
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