Why are we doing this journal?
Our son Luka has been diagnosed with 'High-Risk Neuroblastoma Cancer'. He has a tumour in his stomach, and some in his legs. Reality? This type of cancer, with this type of spread, in this age of child, has a 50% success rate. We are in a fight for life, there is no hiding that.
Luka will undergo treatment including Chemotherapy, Radiation & Surgery over the next 12 - 16 months, all in Christchurch away from our home in Te Anau. Pretty tough stuff right?
Everyone has been very supportive with offers of help and sending gifts. The most common gift we have received over the first week has been journals, a space to write down our thoughts as the time goes by.
We both tried sitting down and writing but it doesn't feel comfortable for us to be talking to a blank book. Sorry to those who sent a journal, they may now become drawing books for Luka (for now). We want to have one place to update everyone and share our stories, good and bad, but most importantly to show that this horrible experience is not something that will beat us and hopefully that can connect with others who may be having a similar one.
Here, we have updates, photos & video and a place to message us or Luka. As well as this one spot, we have an Instagram and Facebook page set up to share photos & videos of this journey.
There is also the link to the GoFundMe page that our cousin Nicole set up. It is hard for us to fathom people donating to Luka and something we thought we would never be in the situation to have set up for us, but we realise this is a long haul and our family support is critical to us. This is what any donations will be used for, for their travel to Christchurch so they can help us and be with their grandson. Depending on Luka's progression through the first stages of his treatment, we may be landed with the potential decision of whether to look for treatment outside of New Zealand. Please do not feel as though you need to donate, your messages are enough. If you wish to or you have, we appreciate it greatly, it will help to keep any burden off Luka's grandparents and us.
We apologise if our blog is sometimes raw or too open/honest but we want Luka to understand when he grows up that there is always hope and positives in any situation and that sharing the tough times with others is okay.
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