‘It’s just so heartbreaking to see him have to go through all of this’: Parents told their three-year-old son PJ Leyshon has cancer

A family of eight has been left heartbroken after doctors delivered life-changing news about the West Lakes Shore family’s youngest member.

PJ has been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Picture: GoFundMe

The first thought that entered Melissa Del Medico’s head when doctors told her that her three-year-old son had cancer was: “Am I going to lose my child?”

“We couldn’t believe it … when you hear stories that this happens to children you just never think that it’s going to happen to your child,” the 36-year-old told The Advertiser.

The West Lakes Shore mum said when she brought her son PJ Leyshon to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital on March 30 she thought he may have a viral infection.

“It’s acute lymphoblastic leukaemia,” she said.

PJ Leyshon while undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Picture: Supplied by family

PJ Leyshon with his brother Brock Coleman and sister Ellanah Coleman. Picture: Supplied by family

PJ had been complaining of leg pain for the last two months.

“We took him to the doctors a few times because of the leg pain and I was told it was growing pains,” Ms Del Medico, who is a stay-at-home-mum said.

“He kept complaining about his legs and then Troy and I picked him up under his arms like you would normally pick up a child and he just started getting upset and crying.

“We ended up taking him back to the doctors and the doctors said the same stuff.”

Four days before Easter Saturday PJ was consistently getting temperatures that could only be controlled by Panadol and Nurofen.

“On Easter Saturday he just looked pale, he didn’t look the best, I ended up taking him to emergency,” Ms Del Medico said.

PJ Leyshon with his mum Melissa Del Medico and dad Troy Leyshon. Picture: Supplied by family

Three-year-old PJ Leyshon before he was diagnosed. Picture: Supplied by family

An hour and a half after PJ’s second blood test, doctors returned and told Ms Del Medico and Mr Leyshon news no parent expects to hear – their son had leukaemia.

“We were transferred that afternoon straight to the oncology ward at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital,” Ms Del Medico said.

PJ is set to undergo six months of intense chemotherapy.

“Every few days he has a chemo treatment and every week he has a lumbar puncture where they take out the fluid from his spine and take some of the fluid from his spine and inject the chemotherapy straight into his spine so it can run up to his brain,” Ms Del Medico said.

“And then he will have about two and a half to three years of maintenance after that.”

PJ will need to undergo three years of treatment. Picture: Supplied by family

PJ Leyshon while undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Picture: Supplied by family

To watch their three-year-old son go through this is “absolutely heartbreaking” for the couple and their five other children – 15-year-old Keilen Leyshon, 13-year-old Reegan Leyshon, 11-year-old Brock Coleman, 10-year-old Ellanah Coleman and 10-year-old Jett Leyshon.

“They are finding it difficult to watch their brother so sick,” Ms Del Medico said.

“They are all absolutely devastated to see their brother going through all this and how much pain he goes through everyday … there are some days he can’t walk, some days he won’t even move off the bed.”

For both Ms Del Medico and Mr Leyshon, who stopped work as a cook to be there for his son, say their focus has been on PJ and his complex health needs.

“Trying to be there for the other five children at the same time and trying to understand what they are going through and try and help them the best we can has also been a struggle … because each and every one of them is dealing with it in a different way,” Ms Del Medico said.

PJ Leyshon while at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Picture: Supplied by family

PJ has surprised his parents with his strength and resilience. Picture: Supplied by family

Despite what he is going through PJ has shown strength and resilience according to his supportive parents.

“He really has surprised us so much with everything and how strong he’s been,” Ms Del Medico said.

“It’s just so heartbreaking to see him have to go through all of this.”

If you would like to donate to PJ, you can here.