Worst 14th birthday

In early March, a day which was supposed to be filled with friends, family, presents, joy, laughter and birthday cake turned into a nightmare.

From Dr to Dentist back to Dr again with a request for a blood test, we get a call to come into the hospital within hours. Unaware of why exactly, thinking is this all just because of her bleeding gums?? My daughter Mia was then diagnosed with Leukemia.

Upon further testing over the next couple days, Mia's official diagnosis was confirmed as Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia (MPAL) It is a rare combination of 2 types of Leukemia: ALL and AML

Mia then started treatment protocol for ALL which after a week we found wasn't working. So switched to AML treatment protocol - a more intensive chemotherapy. Which we are still doing now.

Mia's ordinary teen life of hanging with her friends, finding her rhythm in high school, becoming a vibrant independent young lady now consists of months and months in hospital. From IV chemotherapy, spine chemotherapy, blood transfusions, platelet transfusion to having no neutrophils - her white blood cells being completely wiped, Mia is left highly vulnerable and at risk while fighting for her life.

Still holding her head high and persevering on, Mia is currently half way through the AML protocol treatment. Pending latest test results, will determine when she starts her next round of chemotherapy.