✨ Big news ✨
Calib’s latest bone marrow results — the big Aussie ones after round 3 — are back and they show no detectable leukemia 💛
We’re looking at around another two weeks and then Calib can finally say goodbye to the four walls of the hospital. It’s been a massive journey, but seeing the finish line is the best feeling.
In Calib’s words: F@ck Cancer 💪🎗️
I’ve been putting off writing an update, mostly because I don’t want to jinx anything. Hard to believe we’re nearly six months into this hospital life, and honestly it doesn’t get easier. We’re worn out, and most days feel like a rollercoaster. On the tough ones, I feel for Calib having to deal with a teary mum.
The positive news is we’re hopeful this will be his last round of chemo and that he won’t need a bone marrow transplant. His results from Australia looked really good, and we’re waiting on one more test to confirm everything’s clear. If it all lines up, he could be out of hospital late September or early October.
You’d think we’d be celebrating, but this journey has taught me not to get too excited until it actually happens. Still, it feels good to think the end might finally be in sight.
Calib loved being home—he got heaps of driving practice in (he’s a natural!) and caught up with friends, which lifted him so much. As always, he just takes it in his stride.
Calibs dad arrives tomorrow, so I’ll get to head home for a bit, and Oma and Poppa will be back up in Auckland once Wayne leaves.
Thank you to everyone still checking in. I don’t always reply (rollercoaster life…), but your messages mean the world. 💛
We’re now in week 4 of Calib’s 3rd round of chemo, and this one has been far from easy. He’s had to push through high-strength chemo drugs, eye drops every 6 hours (even in the middle of the night – definitely not his favourite), multiple blood and platelet transfusions, bleeding gums, cold sores, and painful ulcers in his mouth. We thought we might be starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with this round, but as I write this, Calib’s nurse is giving him yet another round of platelets, followed by a blood transfusion.
We’re still in limbo when it comes to what the next few months will look like. We're waiting on the big bone marrow results from Australia, and the waiting has been incredibly frustrating – that’s probably an understatement. These results will confirm whether he needs one more round of treatment or a bone marrow transplant. We’re hoping that sometime in the next week or so, Calib will have bounced back enough to get a much-needed break out of hospital and hopefully head home to rest, recharge, and keep fighting everything that keeps being thrown his way.
In the meantime, I know he still takes comfort from all the kind messages, even if he doesn’t always have the energy to reply.
We’ve just had a meeting with the doctor about Calib. Right now, there’s about 0.04% leukemia remaining — ideally, they want to see 0%.
His bone marrow sample has been sent to Australia for more detailed testing. This will help guide whether chemo alone will be enough or if he’ll need a bone marrow transplant.
The goal is still to treat him with two rounds of chemo, but they’re weighing the risk of relapse against the serious long-term risks of transplant — things like organ damage, graft-versus-host disease, serious infections, and a much longer, harder recovery. Some people never fully recover, though some do.
If a transplant is needed, it would mean more time in hospital and a higher risk of life-threatening infections.
If chemo clears the leukemia but he relapses later, they would move ahead with a transplant then.
Because Calib has Pacific Island heritage, it can be harder to find a perfect bone marrow match. Isaac won’t be tested (due to size difference), but Wayne and I will be, and possibly other family members too.
For now, we wait — to see how he responds to this round of chemo and what the Australian results show.
Thank you all so much for the love, support, and kind messages — and to those who have donated to Calib’s Givealittle page, we are so deeply grateful. It truly helps lighten the load.
It’s been just over two months since we first received the news, and honestly, it doesn’t get any easier. We’re still taking things day by day, doing our best to stay steady through it all.
Right now, Calib is in hospital recovering from his latest round of chemo and, incredibly, he’s doing really well — full of cheek and humour, even in the thick of it.
We’ve had some promising results: his bone marrow aspiration has gone from 70% cancer cells to just 0.2%. It’s a massive shift, but we’re holding onto cautious hope — we still need that 0.2% to go.
Thank you so much for standing with us. Your support means more than we can put into words.
Hey everyone,
I thought it was time to give you all a little update on life these days. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, but we’re hanging in there. Calib is pushing through and staying strong, even though the chemo has really taken its toll. He’s had some tough days with ulcers in his mouth, but his positivity is amazing.
His determination (or stubbornness – depending on how you look at it) has definitely been his saving grace when it comes to avoiding the feeding tube. Even with his mouth in so much pain, I’ve been in awe of how he keeps pushing through to eat, no matter how hard it is for him.
We are seeing some improvements in his blood work and he is starting to regain energy and getting up and about for small amounts of time. Such a relief!
And positive news, Calib has been able to leave the hospital for a few days to get some much-needed fresh air and sunshine. Of course, we know that means coming back to start another round of treatment.
Thanks so much to everyone for the messages, support and donations – it really helps us stay positive. I’ll keep you all updated as we move forward.
We wanted to take a moment to update you all on Calib’s progress. He has now had his bone marrow test and the surgery to insert his line, both of which went smoothly. Calib has also started his chemotherapy treatment and is facing it all with remarkable strength and positivity.
Throughout this challenging time, he continues to stay in great spirits and has adopted the mantra: "Only positive vibes." His positivity and determination are truly inspiring, and we are so grateful for the support he’s receiving from all of you.
Thank you for your ongoing love, support, and encouragement. It means the world to Calib and our family during this time.
Keep those positive vibes coming!
