Fundraising for Johnny who has Neuroblastoma

Our 8-year-old son Johnny has been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called neuroblastoma.

It all started with a regular trip to the doctor’s for a cold.

We are grateful to our family doctor who spotted a bend in Johnny’s spine while examining him.

We were referred to Starship Orthopaedics where x-rays were done and he was diagnosed with scoliosis. An MRI scan was ordered to find the cause.

Johnny was called back for a second scan three days later and that’s when we were given the shocking news about the tumour growing around his spine.

A biopsy showed this tumour – called a ganglioneuroma – was benign but the doctors wanted a bigger biopsy, which required a bigger surgery.

A nurses’ strike and an RSV outbreak pushed his surgery back and it meant that he didn’t get this operation for several precious weeks.

Then the country went into lockdown cutting off support from our extended family.

Finally, during lockdown, his second operation showed that the tumour was not all benign, and indeed, some parts of it were malignant and if left untreated could spread throughout his body.

Johnny is now going through eight rounds of chemotherapy with many more surgeries and treatments in his near future and he’s taking this all in his stride.

It’s Johnny’s idea that we raise money to help support the tireless charities who help to support us and many other families who are going through similar battles.

Money raised from our givealittle page will go back to several charities such as Child Cancer Foundation and Child Cancer research and Starship Hospital foundation. We are hoping to keep a small portion aside to give to Johnny to spend when he recovers.

We understand a lot of people are hurting at the moment and we are grateful for every dollar donated.

Thank you so much,

The Raphaels.