Haven Tauroa-Rauhihi will celebrate Christmas in Townsville after his long battle against leukaemia

After spending last Christmas in hospital, brave Townsville cancer sufferer Haven Tauroa-Rauhihi finally gets to come home to spend this holiday season with his family.

Haven Tauroa-Rauhihi with his brothers Tiare and Sonny. Picture: Supplied.

After spending last Christmas at the Queensland Children’s Hospital receiving chemotherapy, Townsville boy Haven Tauroa-Rauhihi is delighted to be celebrating this Christmas at home with his family.

Speaking about Haven’s difficult health journey, his mum Holly, said it began in November last year when her five-year-old experienced four days of fevers, was very fatigued, while appearing pale with a yellowish tone, like he was jaundiced.

Ms Tauroa-Rauhihi said he was rushed to hospital for a blood and platelet transfusions after pathology testing revealed that he had low blood cell counts and his bone marrow wasn’t working.

In a “big shock” for the family, follow-up testing in Brisbane led to a blood cancer diagnosis known as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), which represents 55 per cent of all blood cancer diagnoses in children aged 0-14 years.

“They said we would be in Brisbane for a couple of months … (but) we ended up staying in Brisbane for nearly 12 months,”the lifelong Townsville resident said.

Haven Tauroa-Rauhihi received a shock diagnosis. Picture: Supplied.

“It has been multiple chemos a week - he’s been on steroids, had lumbar punctures where they put chemo into the spinal fluid and in for surgery to get his port-a-cath put in and removed.”

Heavily pregnant with their third child, and neither her nor her husband Damon able to work while supporting Haven, the family was deeply concerned about staying in Brisbane and paying off a mortgage.

The Tauroa-Rauhihi family – three-year-old Sonny, mum Holly, dad Damon, eight-month-old Tiare and five-year-old Haven – are celebrating Haven's return home to Townsville after his long battle against leukaemia. Picture: Supplied.

Their salvation appeared in the form of a fully subsidised self-contained unit at the Leukaemia Foundation Accommodation Village, which is just down the road from the hospital.

Ms Tauroa-Rauhihi gave birth to her son Tiare while they were in Brisbane in March.

The family received the news that Haven was in remission in April. `

“It has been really tough watching him go through all of the treatments and the chemo, lots of change in body, weight gain with steroids, and then weight loss with chemos,” she said.

Haven Tauroa-Rauhihi with his baby brother Tiare. Picture: Supplied.

“You don’t realise how resilient your kids are until they’re put in this situation.

“He’s just soldiered through.”

Haven Tauroa-Rauhihi in hospital during his battle against Leukaemia. Picture: Supplied.

In October, the brave boy was told by doctors his treatments in Brisbane would only be required every four to eight weeks, allowing him to return home.

While it was difficult knowing the chemo treatments would have to continue until April 2024, his mum Holly took heart Haven could start primary school next year.

“We’re just very grateful that we had Leukaemia Foundation and I don’t know what we would have done without it,” she said.

With 53 new families facing a blood cancer diagnosis every day over the holiday season, donations are being sought for the Leukaemia Foundation Christmas Appeal.

To donate, visit leukaemia.org.au or call 1800 620 420.

Originally published as Haven Tauroa-Rauhihi will celebrate Christmas in Townsville after his long battle against leukaemia