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Zayn's 'AML' Fight

  • *Ding* Round 2 🤺

      22 February 2022
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    These last 10 days have been amazing with Zayn home. Zian has enjoyed every minute of it, and to see his face light up every time he gets home and sees dad is still here, melted my heart and saddened me at the same time. Because although it’s not forever, he will be away again, for 4-6 weeks and Zian’s sadness breaks my heart. He loves his dad so much, and one day this will all be a distant memory.

    I get asked a lot, how am I coping? And it’s always the same answer, I don’t really know. A beautiful friend said to me today “God will give you the strength” and I know this, from first hand experience, because without God I would crumble. And don’t get me wrong, there are times, especially at night, when I do crumble, and break into a million pieces, but the sun always rises again, and we take it day by day.

    Zayn is receiving a very expensive drug called Mylotarg which works together with his Chemo to fight off leukaemia cells, and to destroy future ones on Thursday morning, and then we are straight back into chemo that same night.

    We are both more nervous this time around, Zayn because he’s been through it and remembers how the chemo made him feel, and me, because of how Zian and I will cope for another 4-6weeks.

    However we are so so hopeful that this is his second and last round of chemo. A lot of prayers have gone into this, and I honestly feel at peace, and some sort of “knowing” that this is it. Although we haven’t had results back, I am so sure that his cancer is gone already and that we are only doing this round to be on the safe side.

    And if it comes down to it, and its not gone and we have to do more, then we will take it on, one day at a time.

    Here’s to Zayn kicking cancers butt, and absolute strength as he goes through chemo again.

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  • A week of Dad

      14 February 2022
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    Leaving the hospital like a boss for his first over night stay at Ranui house!

    Was an incredible feeling for Zayn to sleep through the night, with no wake ups for check ups!

    If all goes well tomorrow and his temperature behaves, he gets to come home!!!

    We are looking forward to a week of having “dad” home, before the next cycle starts.

    But before that, first a big day ahead for Zayn tomorrow as they do another bone marrow biopsy to see how the cancer responded to chemo. And on top of that, wisdom tooth and the one next to it is being extracted, and a lump in his neck believed to be a blocked saliva duct is getting checked and dealt with as needed.

    So BIG day tomorrow but oh so grateful that he is coming home. If not tomorrow then Tuesday or Wednesday, so either way, a week of celebration.

    Tomorrow on valentines day we also celebrate 8 years since we started dating. Lots have happened in those 8 years, and we are definitely going to come out stronger at the other end.

    Thankful for my amazing handsome husband with the most amazing attitude through all of this.

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  • “I wish we could stay in bed all day”

      9 February 2022
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    The “I wish we could stay in bed all day” didn’t really age well.

    Most of our days look like this. Lying on his hospital bed, we both nap for at least 2hours midday, both are nauseous and have a lack of energy. Apparently first trimester pregnancy symptoms go hand in hand with after chemo effects.

    And although we are both smiling, we have reached our point of “enough”, and sadly its just the beginning. We are staying strong, as strong as humanly possible I guess, but its so hard. I just miss normal. And I think I’m just having a rough day. Single parenting an almost 2 year old whilst pregnant is no joke. I can’t wait for this to all be over and for Zayn to be home. There is no doubt in my mind that we will get through this, its just the going through that’s hard at the moment.

    And then to actually update on Zayn! He is on antibiotics still, but have switched to a different one since his rash flares up again with the ABs. Its looking like chemo round two is not for another 2 weeks at least as we wait for his white blood count to rise. Sadly with the infection it is dropping again, but his platelets and red blood cell count is climbing!

    The other night his blood cultures came back positive for some sort of bug, and it seems his central line is carrying an infection, so that might be removed if the ABs doesn’t kill it. Then they’ll replace the line before his next chemo round.

    So please continue to pray for him, to help him fight this infection and avoid getting a new line! The fevers also make him feel crappy so please pray for this to go away too!

    Thank you so much for all the support from friends, family and even strangers! Although im sure after this journey they won’t be strangers anymore.

    Thank you all for donating to our page! We could still use your support and every cent is so appreciated, and not over looked at all. There is still some time left until the start of March, so if you can, even just a dollar goes a long way. Thank you so much!

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  • Leukaemia Things

      30 January 2022
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    Zayn is all finished with the first round of chemo, just waiting for blood counts to recover before starting the next round.

    “Leukaemia rash” seems to be setting in and then either a bite or an ingrown hair looking way worse than it would be in a “normal” body but because the chemo destroyed his whole immune system, there is no way for his body to fight it off. Just shows how something minor can turn into something big. However, despite the look of it, its not showing any signs of infection so thats great.

    Its looking like the second round of chemo will start around mid February, and although Zayn is doing super well, they aren’t quite in the clear, so please continue to pray for healing and strength, emotionally and physically.

    Zayn & Jonè thank you for all the donations. It’s going to help carry them through, hopefully Zayn will be back on his feet and back at work before they run out. Thank you, thank you, thank you, it means the world to them!

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  • First Round Update 🥊

      27 January 2022

    Hello everyone, just a quick update on Zayn.

    He is very close to finishing his first round of chemo 🎉 3 doses left until the recovery stage. We know it’s still early stages but we are so incredibly proud of how Zayn is handling this whole ordeal. Despite constant headaches (which they think is caused by his nausea medication), nausea and extreme fatigue, he is staying optimistic and positive.

    The chemo is administered very fast, expect on days 1,3 and 5, when he has to be on an IV line for hours on end.

    Zayn also is blown away by the most incredible nurses.

    They are so thankful for your continuous support, encouragement, prayers and generosity! From the bottom of their hearts, thank you ❤️

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  • 18th Jan 2022 - Chemo Round 1 🥊

      18 January 2022
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    Zayn’s 1st round of chemo has officially started today. It’s hard to think that something that is saving your life can also be so deadly. Zayn & Jonè are so grateful that treatment has started, not long after being diagnosed.

    One day down, 9 more to go for this cycle, and then 3 more cycles of 10days, 1 month apart.

    Its gonna be tough, but Zayn is tougher. Please pray for strength and healing. And thank you to everyone for your donations so far, especially your prayers!

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