Jasper reclaims his childhood after facing the most intense treatment protocol for childhood cancer

When Jasper was three years old, his parents noticed that he seemed a bit off and wasn’t his usual energetic self.

“We noticed that slight difference that only a parent can see. Our GP looked him over and we initially attributed it to a growth spurt, or perhaps a minor virus, which is so common in young children,” Jasper’s mum, Taryn says.

Within two weeks, the family’s lives were turned upside down. Jasper’s stomach had become swollen, and they rushed to the GP and then directly to the ER where an x-ray and ultrasound found masses in his abdomen. Everything changed in the space of 48 hours.

“We were told in the halls of the hospital they were 90% sure it was cancer and that a few extra tests would confirm it. Jasper began chemotherapy immediately before we’d even received the final diagnosis. It was like flight or fight mode; we were in an absolute daze.”

Jasper was admitted directly to the paediatric intensive care unit to start his chemotherapy.

“The head of the paediatric oncology department came to Jasper’s bedside, held my hand and confirmed the diagnosis. Our lives changed forever, shattered hearts that will never ever be the same.”

The doctors told Taryn and her husband Stuart that Jasper had lymphoma and that without aggressive treatment, the outcome would be catastrophic. The growth in Jasper’s abdomen was doubling in size every 48 hours and he needed to receive the most intense treatment protocol for childhood cancer.

“Jasper’s first hospital stay lasted 35 days straight. It was five days straight of chemo, of all different types of chemo. Then seven days off and then five days on again. They just slammed him over and over and over and over again.”

Throughout his year of treatment, Taryn says that Jasper never complained or asked to go home, and he accepted his new reality with courage.

“At first, he took some time to warm up to the doctors and nurses, but eventually he would say thank you through tears after enduring yet another painful procedure.”

Five months into Jasper’s treatment, Taryn gave birth to her second child, Odie. When he was born, much of the precious bonding time was consumed by Jasper’s cancer treatment. The family was in survival mode.

When Jasper finished his treatment and was able to go home, he had been bedridden for so long that he lost the ability to walk and needed to use nappies again. He had been fed through a nasal gastric tube and had to readjust to eating food again.

“He had to learn to re-walk and learn to re-eat, and he had to be toilet trained again. It was like everything just stopped. We did not go to a park, we did not go to a pool, we did not see friends, he did not play with other children, we were completely isolated from the world. He had to re-discover the joys of being a regular child.”

Taryn has previously worked with organisations delivering camp opportunities to children with cancer and was eager for Jasper to be able to attend Camp Quality events.

“He adores Camp Quality. The other day we were talking about how the Camp Quality Christmas party was coming up and it was really exciting, and he asked me if he was lucky he got cancer. How do you answer that? But I say, being part of the Camp Quality family feels like it heals the hurt and yes, it’s lucky, but just a different type of lucky.”

Taryn says that the trauma of what the family went through will never go away, but connecting with other families helps them adapt to their new normal and they have learnt a lot from other parents about how to have conversations with Jasper about his cancer as he has become older.

“You go to these big events, and you see these families and you think, far out, every single one of you have had those long days in the hospital, have had those nights where the machine keeps beeping all night long. And so, it’s heartbreaking, but then it’s soothing as well.

Jasper is now a happy, healthy seven-year-old. He still has checkups twice a year but is taking on each day with enthusiasm and energy. Jasper adores his younger brother, Odie, and is making up for lost time as a doting big brother.

“He goes to school, rides his bike, gets up to mischief with his little brother, plays in a basketball team with his mates, and loves his life. He’s understanding his previous diagnosis as he grows, understanding it as a six-year-old and understanding it as a seven-year-old. I want Jasper to be empowered to understand his prior health issues and go into it with a positive mindset.”

Since registering with Camp Quality, Jasper had a blast at a Kids’ Camp and the family have gone to the movies, treetop adventures, the Melbourne aquarium, a winter Family Camp and many other fun-filled events.