Support 2 year old Magnus and his family fight his stage four cancer. - Updates

Merry Christmas and a heartfelt thank you!

25 December 2024

We wish everyone a lovely Christmas time and wanted to take the opportunity to express our deepest thanks to everyone who has and is supporting us through all of this in any shape or form! We appreciate you and your help so very much.

We are home for three days, Magnus' biggest wish came true! ☺️🥹

Watch until the end, our little warrior has a special message for you 💕

Lots of love

Magnus, Diana and Mario

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Stem cell harvest succesful

23 December 2024

All went well today! It was a monster session that began yesterday with a 3 hours blood transfusion, overnight IV fluids and ended 6pm today - with 6 hours of stem cell harvest, and with 4-6 people always in the room.

Magnus is doing well, although exhausted and very sensitive. Bluey, and Maulwurf episodes helped a lot to keep him entertained but we also needed to go for the option of sedating him slightly as he would have been very upset sitting still for 6 hrs when all he wanted was "leave the hospital, take a taxi and fly home" (his own words).

The good news is, we don't need to repeat the session!! They got all the stem cells they wanted 🥳

The even better news is, we might be able to go home for 3 full days before the next round starts ❤️ his biggest wish on the Santa wish list... "I want my home".

It looks like the Christmas spirit and all those positive thoughts and prayers from everyone are reaching us ☺️

Can't wait to see his little face when we tell him the good news!

Merry Christmas everyone! We wish you all the best from the depths of our hearts. 🎄 🎁

Arohanui Xxx

Magnus, Diana and Mario

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Visible side effects are starting

21 December 2024

We had some rocky temperatures these past 3 days. Never too high to needing to rush to hospital but enough to keep us awake at nights to check. Fortunately this has settled yesterday and he's super happy again.

But this morning he came to the bed saying "Mama look, I pulled my hair", with a fist full of hair in his hands. Diana softly touched and pulled and a little blond lock stayed behind in her hand. Suffice to say that it was a very upsetting moment with some maternal tears rolling silently and hidden... We knew it might very likely happen. We're just hoping and wishing that this will be the only side effect from that long list.

His beads of courage have arrived with his name and a Pounamu (special to NZ). He will get 50+ more already for all the treatments and pokes and interventions he's already had in these past 2 months.

Please keep up those prayers, wishes, positive thoughts. It's comforting to know he's loved and thought of by many.

Arohanui

Magnus, Diana & Mario

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Day full of tests

18 December 2024

Hello everyone,

After some days of relaxation and recovery, today was a day packed full with appointments.

Start at 8:30 am with a first general blood test and injection for a kidney test. His bloods are officially very low, which is to be expected at this point.

Three more blood tests were done over the course of 6 hours and in between Magnus had a hearing test (excellent hearing, but we knew that already, no conversation goes unnoticed by this toddler!) and a dentist visit (also all clear). He was nervous and still dislikes his Hickman line being accessed, but seems to settle into the hospital routine a bit better. What a trooper!

We had a lovely visit from his dear friend Pia from Wellington and her mum who spent some time with us after the dentist. He was so happy, he hugged her tight and didn't want to let go. 💕

Then came the dressing change for his Hickman line which was a real challenge for him, but afterwards he said "it was ok this time Mama". 🥹

Some smaller appointments during the next days and on Sunday doctors expect there will be a need for a blood transfusion again.

On Monday 23rd Dec the stem cell harvest is planned. Four hours attached to a blood filtering machine.

To finish with a lovely memory, Santa came to visit Ronald McDonald house today and brought lovely gifts! There was a magician too to lift the children's spirits. What an amazing evening!

Arohanui and thank you to everyone who is supporting us through this! 💖

Magnus, Diana & Mario

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First week of Chemo - done!

13 December 2024

The first week of chemo is over, and it was tough. Seeing his resignation when he realizes begging and crying won't get him out of the hospital and he will be connected to the chemo, breaks our hearts every single time.

As soon as he realizes we can leave, his spirit lights up again, and he can't get out fast enough. His leg has improved a lot too, which is great.

We made a huge effort to be out of the hospital as much as we could, escaping to feed ducks or eels, enjoying the playground, or just having a fluffy, contributed to really lovely moments and some laughter.

Magnus needed a blood transfusion today because his numbers had dropped significantly due to chemo, and we spent 3 hours more on the ward than expected. We look forward to spending an almost hospital-free weekend and hope his body will recover quickly from this week's treatment, before the stem cell harvest and the next round of chemo.

Tomorrow he'll receive a line under the skin through which we need to inject a liquid to mobilise his stem cells over the next 7-10 days. Coming Wednesday will be huge with baseline hearing test and baseline kidney test to be able to compare numbers to after chemo is over and see if anything was damaged during treatment. Also having a dentist check to make sure there's no infection potential. ...And change of dressing.... We're dreading that moment.

Our deepest thanks for your generosity and love.

Magnus, Diana & Mario

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Little warrior

10 December 2024

The first administration of chemo was a very emotional moment for all of us. It feels so wrong, thinking to make him sick so he’ll get better goes against every instinct. But the first two days went as well as they could. So far, he tolerates the drugs well. I strongly believe that’s because of all the amazing positive vibes, thoughts, and prayers coming his way, so please keep those up! 🙏

He’s not amused by treatment procedures, hates coming to the hospital, and being attached to the machine. After they clip him in he breaks down and screams, “I don’t want the medicine, Mama!!” We totally get his anger, sadness, and frustration and are glad he expresses them openly. And to be honest, we’d like to scream with him.

He's a champion! Tonight he took off his own shirt and didn’t cry seeing the Hickman line. He let us wipe his tummy with a wet cloth briefly before getting nervous. Huge win! 🌈

His right leg is extremely painful, and since Sunday, he doesn’t want to walk at all. We’re working on finding the cause.

Thank you for all the generosity and creativity towards him: 💕

Our daycare recorded some lovely song videos for him to sing along.

Be sure to get a ticket to the fundraiser movie night on the 12th that Hannah, Chloe & team are organising in Welly.

Andrew continues to support us with heartfelt videos.

We’re constantly amazed by all the kindness and love from family, friends, neighbors, and even people we haven’t met. ❤️

Arohanui, Magnus, Diana & Mario

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First quemo therapy session

9 December 2024

Magnus has had his first quemo therapy session today. A 3 hrs round connected to a machine pumping drugs and fluids into his little body…he endured like a little warrior, but wanted to get out of the hospital and away from doctors and nurses as fast as possible. We will spend the night here but now we are out and about feeding the ducks.

We’ll be forever grateful for all the support and donations we’ve received so far.

Please continue sharing our story as much as you can so we can keep raising funds for Magnus’ upcoming treatment.

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Recovering and collecting energy for Chemo on Monday

8 December 2024

Dear lovely people,

This weekend, including Friday, we focussed on Magnus' mental recovery. The Hickman line is a huge thing for him but today he managed to take deep breaths, close his eyes and allow us to undress and dress him without a single tear dropping. Mario has had a fake Hickman line placed on his chest too so Magnus can familiarise himself with it a bit more on a body that's not his.

Friday we've spent 4 amazing hours at the Willowbanks park with great weather and so many lovely animals. The piggies were his absolute favourite! Two were put on a diet and he's still telling us about that.

Sunday we maximised our annual pass for Tram and Gondola and had 4 or 5 return trips up the hill with the Gondola. Thank you all so much for making this happen with your contributions! ❤️🙏 Those fun experiences increase his happiness which helps his healing enormously.

Today we're off to "pick your own Cherries", his absolute favourite fruit at the moment.

I don't want to really write it, it fills me with anxiety and makes it even more real, and I wish we would just wake up Monday and discover it was all a terrible nightmare.

Tomorrow is the start of the Chemotherapy treatment. Please send all your positive thoughts and energy for the next week, crossing fingers, sending prayers and wish for him to tolerate it wonderfully 🌈🙏❤️‍🩹

Arohanui, thanks for being part of this difficult journey!

Lots of love

Magnus, Diana and Mario

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Some amazing things up for auction

7 December 2024

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/search?member_listing=863510

We are so grateful to everyone for the support that has been pouring in for Magnus as he starts his journey. I know that he is in the thoughts and prayers of more people than we will ever know and that is amazing.

We have been been putting together an amazing fundraiser action over the last few weeks and have finally got some listed please take a look there are some real treats to be won. This weeks listing include a signed black caps jersey, Boomrock lunch for two, sky stadium membership and so much more! There will be more auctions put up over the coming weeks as well.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/search?member_listing=863510

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Hickman line insertion successful

5 December 2024

Letting everyone know that Magnus has been through the Hickman line insertion, which will allow to put meds in during quemo therapy, take blood samples, perform transfusions if needed, amongst other things.

This line sets the beginning of the marathon we’re embarking on, and will change his and our lives.

Crossing fingers so he’s not too upset when he realises the line is there.

Thank you again to everyone who has been supporting us in any way. Please keep doing it and share this page as much as you can.

Sending love to all!

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Some good news

4 December 2024

Yesterday we received the results of Magnus' MIBG scan. And there are no new nasty surprises! His main tumor grew in the past month (approx. 1 cm) but other than the bone marrow involvement, about which we were aware already, there were no other metastases visible. We take that as a tiny win!

Diana also had her 20 weeks anatomy scan and we're happy to report that all is well with Magnus' little sibling to be - size is bigger than average. To connect with Magnus' experiences before big tests, Diana pretended to be nervous about the scan and asked Magnus what might help her and he said "Mama, deep breaths and take my hand, I'm here for you" 🥹❤️

He also took it very bravely when we told him that today they want to do another blood test, it will hurt a bit but he can choose if he wanted it taken from his arm, hand or thumb. He decided for the thumb and declared to firmly tell the doctors "not from the arm!" Our little warrior!

We just had the cardiac ultrasound and he was a champ!! He did so well. Even gave the technician a high five. 💪

Tomorrow morning is the Hickman line operation. Unfortunately we're on the acute list again (means delays can happen) but hope he doesn't need to go without food for more than 12 hours yet again! Wish us luck 🤞 🍀

We've seen the new comments and donations from the past days and can't thank you enough for your support! 💗🙏

Arohanui, lots of love

Magnus, Diana and Mario

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04/12/2024 by Alan

Lots of love and good lucks! Magnus you are doing great and even got to see the rescue helicopters!

Recharging energies - thank you Hannah & Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue team

2 December 2024

To balance out the past week, this weekend was full of laughter, fun and relaxation.

Magnus' energy was back up high thanks to the blood transfusion and Saturday was dedicated to strolling around with the grandparents (who have supported us enormously so far), taking the tram and discovering the markets.

Then came adventure Sunday! A heartfelt thank you to Hannah (Mama to Magnus' twin friends at Childspace), Westpac, and Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue team (Cameron, Wayne, Tom and the rest of the lovely team) for making it possible for Magnus to have a "playdate" with the rescue helicopters. He won't stop talking about it and loves his toy helicopter! It's bringing many injured and sick little figurines to the hospital. 😃 After our close up walk around, he saw 3 helicopters in action!

The day was lovely so we let it play out at the beach. 🌞

This week will be a big one again, with an ultrasound to his heart to confirm it'll be healthy enough to receive all the toxic medicine going forward, as well as the placement of the Hickman line into his chest. All these appointments still need to be confirmed.

We have privately organised a child therapy specialist who will use some play, stories and techniques to help him regain some sense of power over his body and to hopefully help him feel less anxious about upcoming procedures.

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Update from Christchurch

30 November 2024

Your messages give us strength and hope. Thank you so much for being part of his journey!

It’s been a rough week. Last Saturday, Magnus developed a high fever and had to spend 2 days in Wellington hospital. Thankfully, he recovered quickly.

On Tuesday we flew to Christchurch. Magnus was thrilled about staying at Ronald McDonald House; he adores the trampoline and big kitchen. However, hospital visits have been tough. He gets very upset about procedures, blood tests, and anaesthetic masks.

On Thursday, Magnus cried so hard before sedation that his nose bled. He had to fast from 9:30am to 4:30 pm. The team successfully inserted the IV line. The wait while he was sedated was hard. The MIBG scan team injected a radioactive substance to highlight any tumor cells during the scan on Friday, and Diana had to stay 2 meters away from Magnus for 48 hours to protect the unborn baby, which was very upsetting. When he woke up around 6:30pm, he immediately asked for food.

Friday’s big test made Magnus very nervous. We walked around the botanical gardens to distract him. He had to fast from 7am until 1pm. The MIBG scan lasted over 2 hours. When he woke up around 3pm he asked for cherries and ate until late at night. That wasn’t the end of his day. Blood tests showed low platelets and hemoglobin, requiring a blood transfusion, which took 5 hours. We finally returned to the Ronald McDonald House around 10pm.

We hope for a relaxed weekend without tricky surprises to catch our breath again.

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An note of thanks from Diana

25 November 2024

We want to express our deepest gratitude to all the lovely people who care so much for our little son. We are overwhelmed from all the outpour of love, kindness and encouragement that we have received in the past 5 days from family, friends, our community and people we haven't met. We're reading through all the comments and they bring us to tears of hope and gratitude. All the energy, prayers, love, best wishes and contributions that you send him will make a huge difference.

This page was set up by our lovely daycare, and "give-a-little" only allows one admin per page so please forgive us that we can't respond to each of your messages individually.