Latest news with #AcuteLymphoblasticLeukemia
Sydney Morning Herald
31-07-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Esperance mum fled WA after faking children's medical disorders, court told
An Esperance woman is fighting to be released on bail ahead of her sentencing after admitting to faking a long list of disorders and illnesses that she claimed her children were afflicted by. Sarah Jayne Kelly, 30, repeatedly told doctors her four young children had a raft of medical issues, including ADHD, autism and leukemia, and inserted a feeding tube into one child's nose which was later removed by doctors after they realised there was nothing wrong. Kelly also told doctors at least one of her children had cerebral palsy, which was a lie, the Perth District Court was told on Thursday. A GoFundMe page created in February 2021 on Kelly's behalf raised more than $2000 and stated that one of her children was 're diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), this is the second time within a year his had to battle leukemia, he was diagnosed originally in 2020'. It also stated: 'This time around it's a lot worse and in September he will require a bone marrow transplant. He's having regular chemotherapy and will be required to spend a fair amount of time in hospital.' Kelly was due to be sentenced in the Perth District Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to failing to protect a child from harm, before she put forward an application for bail. During the same hearing, Kelly also pleaded guilty to a non-appearance in a superior court after she fled the state last year with her children to New South Wales, and failed to appear in an Esperance court to face her charges. On Thursday, details of Kelly's 'pathological lies' were detailed, including how she underwent a double mastectomy and later a breast reconstruction, telling friends and family she was suffering from breast cancer. But the court was told she was never diagnosed with the disease, instead undergoing the procedure for 'prophylactic reasons' that were unsubstantiated.
The Age
31-07-2025
- Health
- The Age
Esperance mum fled WA after faking children's medical disorders, court told
An Esperance woman is fighting to be released on bail ahead of her sentencing after admitting to faking a long list of disorders and illnesses that she claimed her children were afflicted by. Sarah Jayne Kelly, 30, repeatedly told doctors her four young children had a raft of medical issues, including ADHD, autism and leukemia, and inserted a feeding tube into one child's nose which was later removed by doctors after they realised there was nothing wrong. Kelly also told doctors at least one of her children had cerebral palsy, which was a lie, the Perth District Court was told on Thursday. A GoFundMe page created in February 2021 on Kelly's behalf raised more than $2000 and stated that one of her children was 're diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), this is the second time within a year his had to battle leukemia, he was diagnosed originally in 2020'. It also stated: 'This time around it's a lot worse and in September he will require a bone marrow transplant. He's having regular chemotherapy and will be required to spend a fair amount of time in hospital.' Kelly was due to be sentenced in the Perth District Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to failing to protect a child from harm, before she put forward an application for bail. During the same hearing, Kelly also pleaded guilty to a non-appearance in a superior court after she fled the state last year with her children to New South Wales, and failed to appear in an Esperance court to face her charges. On Thursday, details of Kelly's 'pathological lies' were detailed, including how she underwent a double mastectomy and later a breast reconstruction, telling friends and family she was suffering from breast cancer. But the court was told she was never diagnosed with the disease, instead undergoing the procedure for 'prophylactic reasons' that were unsubstantiated.
Irish Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Over €30k raised for 'kind-hearted' eight-year-old girl battling rare cancer
Communities around Ireland have come together to raise more than than €30,000 in aid of a young girl from Co Limerick who is battling a rare form of blood cancer. Eighth-year-old Amelia Murphy was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in June, soon after she had completed first class at Monaleen National School. According to her family, Amelia is known for her sunny personality and love of learning, while she's also a talented Irish dancer who proudly took part in her very first feis this year. The youngster is now undergoing an intensive treatment plan at Crumlin Children's Hospital, which requires frequent travel, extended hospital stays, and major life adjustments. Amelia's parents, Brendan and Caroline, have had to step back from work in order to care for their daughter and support her treatment. Amelia with her dad Brendan and brother Cillian Their friends have now set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to support the family as they navigate this difficult time and "so that the Murphys can focus entirely on what matters most — helping Amelia get better." A message shared by the fundraiser's organisers on the GoFundMe page states: "We are fundraising in support of 8-year-old Amelia Murphy, a bright, kind-hearted, and spirited little girl from our local community who has recently been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). "Amelia is the beloved daughter of Brendan and Caroline Murphy, who have been active and valued members of the Annacotty and Castletroy community for over 20 years. "Caroline and her mother Eileen are well known among Irish music fans and rarely miss a Nathan Carter concert. Brendan is a familiar face to many through his work and community involvement, and both parents have always been the first to support local events, schools, and clubs. "The Murphy family are passionate Limerick GAA supporters — they've cheered on the boys in green through thick and thin, and now we have a chance to cheer for them. "The financial impact is growing, with the cost of travel, accommodation, and time away from work placing a heavy burden on the family. Amelia with her mum Caroline "We have set up this GoFundMe to help ease that strain so that the Murphys can focus entirely on what matters most — helping Amelia get better. "Every donation, big or small, will make a meaningful difference. Your kindness and generosity will help this much-loved local family through the most challenging time of their lives. "Let's rally together and show the Murphys the same unwavering support they've always shown our community." The GoFundMe page has raised more than €30,900 from over 500 donations after being set up at the weekend. If you would like to make a donation you can visit the page here. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
‘Is this real?' How Disney makes wishes come true for critically ill kids
Jamie Martinez didn't imagine her family on a Disney vacation in Hawaii. 'I didn't picture my daughter going to the beach again, swimming again,' the Los Angeles mom said. Her 6-year-old, Luciana, was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor, medulloblastoma, in January of last year. 'When something like that hits your life out of nowhere, the last thing you're thinking about is doing something like this,' Jamie said. 'We were just thinking about that specific moment and how to bring her out of that.' Each day, families with critically ill children face hardships most people can't imagine, but Make-A-Wish can. For more than 40 years, the nonprofit has been granting their kids life-changing wishes through partners like Disney. 'They were the only ones thinking about the future,' Jamie said. 'They were able to picture that for us.' Disney is Make-A-Wish's largest wish grantor, fulfilling more than 165,000 wishes since the first official wish for then 7-year-old Frank "Bopsy" Salazar at Disneyland in 1981. Most of those are park-related. Disney Experiences Chairman D'Amaro serves on Make-A-Wish America's national board of directors and his niece is a Wish alum. At a Star Wars-themed Wish event at Disneyland last year, he told USA TODAY, 'We've been thinking about how can we continue to make these experiences even more immersive, even richer, even more memorable for these Make-A-Wish kids.' This spring, Disney properties around the world did just that for scores of families like Luciana's during Disney Week of Wishes and Aulani Wish Week. The royal treatment Nearly 50 Wish families were treated to a two-day Once Upon a Wish Party at Walt Disney World in Florida. Lilly Fernandez of Chester, New York, chose Disney World 'because I wanted to see the castle and the other Disney princesses. And I got crowned princess, so now I'm not just Lilly. I'm Princess Lilly!' The 6-year-old has been battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia since March of last year. Her mom, Heydi, said Lilly takes her chemotherapy 'like a champ,' but it's been tough. 'We have some good days and some bad days." The Disney days were good ones. 'It was so magical, and I was like, 'Is this real or am I like just asleep?'' Lilly said. 'I danced, and I was playing with Pluto. And I was pretending to be a squirrel, so he was chasing me.' The kids were treated to a royal ball, a pajama party and other special surprises. 'Just seeing Lilly happy and just for that moment, it just felt like we were in a dream,' Heydi said. 'I'm sure that a lot of parents felt the same, where they saw their kids happy, being that they have gone through maybe months, maybe years of going through what they're going through with their health.' Give Kids the World: This Florida resort gives critically ill children the chance to just be kids A hard journey A post shared by Make-A-Wish Oregon (@makeawishoregon) 'This journey, honestly, in day-to-day life, it is hard,' said Linda Pham of Beaverton, Oregon. 'My son can be fine right now. The next day he can be in the ER fighting for his life.' Her 5-year-old Raiden has UBA5, which UMass Chan Medical School describes as an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disease. 'Think of cerebral palsy that can get worse over time and causes epilepsy, as well,' said Raiden's dad, Tommy. 'And his brain ... it's kind of like frozen in time. Maybe it's like a five, six-month-old.' Raiden also can't control his body and is non-speaking, but his dad says they're closer to getting gene therapy. At home, Raiden's parents take turns caring for him around-the-clock, with help from their 7-year-old, Jordyn. Linda and Tommy also juggle full-time jobs and work on the Raiden Science Foundation, which they started to raise awareness and funds for rare disease research for kids. 'We never really have a moment together as a family, so this week has been incredible,' Tommy said. They chose Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii for Raiden's wish because he loves the water, and Linda said he giggles like a baby whenever anything Disney is on TV. The Phams shared laughs and reconnected on the trip. They also connected with other Wish families. 'Having a family that understands and to be able to relate to when they're there, it just makes you part of a community, too,' Linda said. Full of hope Luciana's family knows the importance of community. 'That reminder that there's someone else looking after you, that you're not alone, that is huge,' Jamie said. Make-A-Wish gave them something to look forward to, at Aulani. "It brought us out of all that routine of going to the hospitals, going to every appointment,' Jamie said. 'Like you're able to picture again how your life was, but now with a different sense of view that's full of hope.' What she didn't imagine was that Luciana would be done with cancer treatment and in remission by the trip. 'I go to the pool and dance, said hi to Moana and Stitch,' Luciana said. 'And then I went to a luau. I went to see the sunset.' The pool was her favorite, but she called the whole experience exciting. "That filled our hearts so much,' Jamie said. Make-A-Wish America says 87% of alumni consider their wishes a turning point in their treatment and 99% of doctors say wishes help ease the family's traumatic stress. Any child being treated for a critical illness may be referred to Make-A-Wish by their parents, legal guardians, family members with detailed knowledge of their current medical condition, medical professionals, social worker or child-life specialists.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nurse gets ready to draw blood—what this 5-year-old says through tears leaves viewers in awe
Reece is five years old. He sits on the hospital bed with tears clinging to his lashes, his small frame stiff with fear. A nurse gently prepares the materials for yet another blood draw—one of many he's endured over the course of his cancer treatment. And then, through shaky sobs, Reece begins to speak: 'You're okay. You're brave. You can do this.' The words come out haltingly at first, like he's reminding himself how to breathe. His voice trembles, but it doesn't break. With a determined little fist pump, he adds, 'Heck yeah! Just do it. Yeah boy! That's what I'm talkin' about.' It's a moment that has struck millions online. Captured in a now-viral TikTok posted by his mom, Morgan Handley, Reece's pep talk delivers a powerful emotional gut punch wrapped in internet sweetness. For any parent who has watched their child face something painful, it's deeply familiar. This is bravery in real time: scared, tearful, but moving forward anyway. Reece's courage shines brighter when you understand the journey behind it. At just three years old, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer. (According to the National Cancer Institute, it accounts for about 25% of all childhood cancers in the United States and occurs most often in children aged 1 to 4 years.) Since then, blood draws like this one have become a biweekly ritual—a necessary, but often painful, part of his treatment. Related: How to raise our sons with a full emotional life—from vulnerability to strength The road hasn't been easy. According to Upworthy, his family has navigated the ups and downs of immunotherapy and the side effects that come with it, from rashes to the challenges steroids can bring. Despite this, Reece's resilience remains unshaken. His treatment is expected to conclude in July 2025, when he will ring the bell, a cherished milestone signaling the end of his cancer journey. But while the 'ringing the bell' moment is often celebrated as a victory, the path there is paved with days like this one. Blood draws, needle pokes, and medical tests aren't rare interruptions; they're routine for Reece and many families facing childhood cancer. Related: This mama's honest post about childhood cancer is going viral and it's heartbreaking What makes Reece's pep talk so powerful is how deeply it reflects the emotional tools he's internalized over time. His mantra captures the delicate balance between fear and determination that so many kids experience in hard quiet self-coaching is no accident. Morgan Handley, Reece's mom, shared with Upworthy that their family has long practiced pep talks and emotional encouragement, turning those words into a kind of armor. Over time, Reece has absorbed these scripts and rituals, learning to face pain with resilience. Experts in child development note that young children often internalize the emotional tone set by their caregivers. When parents model calm encouragement and use consistent emotional scripts—especially during repeated stress—it can help children feel more secure and build resilience over time. Reece's courage is, in many ways, a reflection of the love and steady guidance that surrounds him. Related: How to teach kids about cancer—from a Certified Child Life Specialist Watching your child face pain and fear is one of the hardest things a parent can endure. There is often no way to take the discomfort away—only to sit beside it, soften the edges, and help your child walk through it. Behind moments like Reece's are countless hours of emotional scaffolding. Parents like Morgan Handley are managing medications and appointments—and also nurturing resilience, one bedtime pep talk, one calming breath, one whispered 'you can do this' at a time. Related: A letter to new cancer moms They build emotional toolkits: mantras that ground, breathing exercises that regulate, stories that reframe fear. They validate their child's pain while gently offering strategies to move through it., even when their own hearts are breaking. Reece's pep talk may sound simple, but it carries the weight of this emotional labor. It's the echo of every time he's been told he's strong, brave, and not like his grows through practice and love—not something we're simply born with. The outpouring of love and support for Reece has been overwhelming. Commenters from all walks of life are cheering him on: Luv2laugh: 'I didn't see cancer right away! My son had stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma and was in heart failure, he was 16 and had a 10% chance and he is a healthy 22 today!! This guy is gonna be great!! What a great attitude!! Sending love and prayers!!' Dia D: 'How can I love him so much and never met him? Token8885: 'Please tell him he is the most bravest lil guy ever!! ' Biochemgeeek: 'A positive attitude goes such a long way in cancer treatment! So proud of this little dude!!!' Dani: 'What a beautiful little boy! Wishing him lots of blessings and hoping everything turns out great. He's a fighter, he's going to grow up to be an amazing man. ' Related: 6 simple ways to teach kids emotional intelligence (that you're probably already doing) Reece's story shows us how resilience can be quietly built day by day, with love, encouragement, and emotional support. For parents navigating difficult medical journeys with their children, it's a reminder that the scripts we teach, the mantras we share, and the patience we offer all become tools kids carry with them. Related: 4 ways to support challenging behavior in kids, from a Speech Language Pathologist
