When eight-month-old Eli was left struggling to breathe, doctors initially suspected common childhood illness like croup and bronchiolitis. Instead, this marked the beginning of what would be a challenging cancer journey.

“We thought all the adventures we imagined sharing with our baby had been lost,” said Keanna, Eli’s mum. 

In June 2023, Eli fell ill and, after attempts to manage his symptoms, he was rushed to Canberra Hospital, where an x-ray detected a tumour in his chest. 

This led to the collapse of one of Eli's lungs, prompting an urgent call to the Newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS), a service proudly supported by Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF). He needed specialised care and depended on the NETS team to stabilise his condition and safely transfer him to Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick (SCH).

Within hours of arriving at SCH, Eli was in the Children’s Intensive Care Unit (CICU). His tiny body struggled, despite receiving oxygen support to help him breathe. The tumour was pressing against his heart and twisting his trachea, making his condition life threatening. Medical experts worked tirelessly to save his life.

“Although it’s the last place you wanted to be, it was made better by the compassionate and dedicated care teams,” said Keanna. “They went above and beyond to attend to every concern and question we had to ensure we knew what we needed to know, when we needed to know it.”

A week following a critical period in the CICU, Eli’s family received a diagnosis: neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that develops in nerve tissue and is most common in children under the age of five. Further scans revealed the dangerously large tumour had spread extensively throughout his torso, placing him at stage four of the disease.

"Before this, I had never really thought about childhood cancer, let alone heard of neuroblastoma," said Keanna. "It has only been through listening to the stories of other families we've met along the way that we've learned so much about it and how absolutely life changing a diagnosis is."

Finally in mid-August, after weeks on the oncology ward receiving chemotherapy, Eli’s condition began to improve and he was discharged, marking a significant milestone. However, the journey was not over for Eli and his family, as they faced the unexpected reality of staying in Sydney for the next six months for ongoing treatment. 

During these six months, Eli attended weekly clinic appointments and underwent two more rounds of chemotherapy. These frequent visits often resulted in additional hospital stays due to complications, such as a blood clot and mucositis, which is the inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract. 

Though at times these challenges tested Eli's resilience and his family's strength, the experience deepened their bond and reinforced their determination to overcome the obstacles ahead. 

“You take one day at a time, one hour at a time, and even ten minutes at a time. Thinking about the future only fills you with fear, and thinking of the past only fills you with grief, so you try to focus only on the here and now,” said Keanna.

In their time of need, the outpouring of support from healthcare professionals and the unwavering love of family and friends created a blanket of comfort for Eli that reached across the globe. 

In October, there was a glimmer of hope as Eli’s main tumour had significantly shrunk. Now back home in Canberra, Eli is doing exceptionally well, though he is not completely cancer-free. His condition is closely monitored by Kids Cancer Centre’s (KCC) James Tedesco Outreach Program, proudly supported Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation.

“It feels surreal. I still need to pinch myself to know that this is real, that we got to bring him home,” said Keanna. “We feel truly blessed, like we are the lucky ones despite being so unlucky.”

Today, Eli is perpetually filled with wonder by the birds in the backyard and finds joy in waving to cars from the driveway. He appreciates the small things in life, soaking up the simple pleasures and cherishing every moment. 

“No part of our lives is untouched by Eli’s cancer. Our daily routines and future dreams - nothing about our lives remains unchanged,” said Keanna. “But each step forward brings us a brighter future.”