Meet Teddy, the brave toddler whose smile lights up any room. For his parents, sister, nurses and doctors who held his little hand through 24 challenging months of treatment, his laughter filled them with hope. 

Life before cancer 

On Teddy’s second birthday, he celebrated the way every toddler should – devouring four plates of lasagna, singing ‘happy birthday’ and blowing out candles surrounded by family and friends. His party was a day to remember and for his parents, Anna and Simon, it’s a special memory they cherish of life  before  cancer. 

Just weeks after Teddy’s party, life as they knew it, changed. Teddy suddenly lost his sparkle - he was feeling flat and strange bruises appeared on his neck. Anna called Healthcare Direct just to be safe, but they confirmed he needed urgent medical attention. 

Teddy’s diagnosis 

Anna and Simon walked into the emergency department at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick (SCH) expecting a quick visit. Instead, they received life-changing news – the devastating diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer. 

Leukaemia is the most common form of cancer in children, with the survival rate for ALL being 90%. But genetic tests revealed that Teddy had a rare cell deletion meaning his body would need a different course of treatment and his chances of relapse would be higher. 

For Anna and Simon, the news devastated their whole family. A cancer diagnosis meant not only was their little boy fighting for his life, but all their future plans and dreams were instantly halted. 

Suddenly, Anna had to stop work to be by her son’s side. It was a decision she made in a heartbeat, although one that meant she lost her sense of self for a while too. 

Anna shares, “Teddy was always my priority but stepping up as his full-time carer again after just returning to work almost full time was really hard. I loved work and the independence it brings too.’’ 

Cancer stole lots of precious moments from the family. Days spent swimming in the pool, celebrating Adelaide, Teddy’s sister preschool graduation and the chance for Teddy to embrace the ‘’terrible twos.’’ The reality was he was often too tired and unwell to enjoy the simple mischief of childhood. 

It took an army of people from doctors to nurses, child life therapists and even Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation (SCHF) donors to get little Teddy through treatment. 

How philanthropy made a difference 

Thankfully, Teddy was enrolled in a game-changing clinical trial that's proudly supported by SCHF. The generosity of SCHF donors helped Teddy access this type of treatment, proven to be less toxic and more effective in patients.   

Dr Luciano Dalla Pozza, Director of the Cancer Centre for Children says, “SCHF supported our efforts to participate in a world-leading trial that has led to substantial decrease in the toxicity of treatment, less admissions to hospital, less infections, less use of antibiotics and less transfusions."

SCHF is proud to supercharge oncology clinical trials across the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. Generous donations help fund key positions to help manage the day-to-day of trials and support families, like Teddy’s, through the process. 

Teddy’s bell ringing ceremony 

Recently, Teddy’s family celebrated a milestone they never planned for but will forever cherish – his bell ringing ceremony. Surrounded by their friends, family, nurses and oncologist, Teddy rang the bell loud and proud to mark the end of his treatment.  

Anna and Simon know they’re the lucky ones. Sadly, three children in Australia still die every week from cancer. That’s why they’re sharing their story, so every child can ring the bell.  

No child should ever go through cancer, but those who do deserve our all. Donate now to change the future for sick kids like Teddy.