Camp Quality Archives: Tia’s journey from childhood cancer to CancerHub Intake and Assessment Practitioner

“I was three years old when I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). At an age when most children are learning about play, safety and routine, my world quickly became hospitals, treatment and a lot of uncertainty,” says former Camp Quality kid, Tia.

In July 2004, Tia’s parents noticed a concerning bruise on her body, but when she also developed a fever; alarm bells started to ring. Concerned she might have meningococcal, they rushed her to the hospital.

“At the hospital, doctors examined the bruise and realised it was actually a bite mark from my little cousin, which we hadn’t known at the time. One doctor felt something wasn’t quite right and pushed for further testing. Those additional tests led to my diagnosis.”

“Cancer shaped my early childhood in ways that went far beyond the medical side of things. It affected my sense of safety, my identity as I grew up, my schooling, relationships and my mental health. Those impacts don’t just disappear when treatment ends, but they also helped shape who I am today.”

Tia’s chemotherapy treatment lasted two and a half years. The first nine months were the most intensive, including chemotherapy through a central line and frequent hospital visits. It was a long journey, but she eventually went into remission in 2009.

“It was an incredibly scary time for my family. My mum was only 22 and shortly after my diagnosis became a single parent. Around the same time, my pop was also diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). My mum relied heavily on my nan, and our family spent a lot of time travelling between hospitals to support both of us. My family was juggling caring for both a sick child and my pop at the same time, which made an already difficult situation even more challenging.”

While she was in the hospital, Tia’s mum was told about Camp Quality and registered.

“Through Camp Quality, we were able to attend many camps, Family Retreats and day events over the years. These experiences became some of the most positive and memorable parts of my childhood during a really difficult time, not just for me but for my whole family.”

Tia loved attending Kids’ Camp, pushing herself to try new activities and making friends with kids who understood her.

“The whole camp experience was special. I loved the big quest and treasure hunt that the entire camp participated in, night fishing, the talent shows, and even helping with the washing up when our cabin was on wash-up duty. It really felt like being part of a big community.”

“Archery was one of my favourite activities there, and it was actually where I conquered my fear of heights. By my third time attending the Broken Bay camp, I managed to go on the flying fox multiple times and even attempted the ropes course.”

“One of my favourite memories was Graduate Camp when I was 13. We were actually police escorted in a Hummer to a fancy dinner, which felt incredibly exciting at that age.”

Tia’s family went on Family Retreats together, spending quality time together as a family, and on Family Camps, where they met other people in the Camp Quality community.

“They gave my family a chance to spend quality time together away from hospitals and treatment, while also connecting with other families who truly understood what we were going through. One of my family’s favourite experiences was the Shark Encounter at Nelson Bay. It was such a unique and exciting experience and something we still talk about.”

“It was also really special that my younger brother, Cruz, was included in the Camp Quality programs. Even though he wasn’t the one going through treatment, he was able to attend camps and activities designed for siblings up until he turned 15. That meant he was able to feel included, supported and part of the community as well.”

When Tia was 12 years old, she saw a competition that Girlfriend Magazine was running, looking for their next ‘Girlfriend of the Year’. In the application, they asked her about her dreams.

“I wrote that I wanted Camp Quality to become more recognised in Australian schools and hoped to help create school awareness and fundraising programs so more people understood the support they provide to kids living with cancer.”

“As a child who had been through leukaemia treatment, I already knew how important Camp Quality was. Looking back, it’s funny how that dream wasn’t too far off from where life eventually led me. Today I work at CancerHub supporting young people and families navigating cancer and connecting them with services like Camp Quality.”

“This work means a lot to me. My lived experience shapes how I show up, with empathy, care and a real understanding of how complex and long-lasting the cancer journey can be.”