‘I feel upset that I don’t get to live out my life’: Caboolture man running out of time

From snorkelling in the Whitsundays to exploring Tassie, a leukaemia patient first diagnosed as a teen has big plans to live every moment to the fullest. SEE THE VIDEO

A 22-year-old Caboolture man is struggling to comprehend his situation, having gone through two separate leukaemia hits only to be told he now has less than 12 months to live.

Matthew Randle was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2020 at 19 and fought hard through many surgeries, a bone-marrow transplant and hundreds of rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.

In late 2021 Mr Randle and his family received the news that he was in remission.

He was able to start planning a future he didn't think he would have and gaining back a sense of normalcy.

Unfortunately, in October his leukaemia came back, this time in his central nervous system.

The doctors are no longer confident they can do anything to extend his quality of life, and he has been given a prognosis of fewer than 12 months.

Running out of time, Mr Randle will marry his girlfriend of nearly three years, Lauren Gray, in December, with plans to travel Australia after the wedding to fulfil a bucket list of seeing the country.

His top destinations include: snorkelling in the Whitsundays, see the Quokkas in Western Australia and exploring Tasmania.

Matthew Randle during his time in hospital. Picture: Contributed

“Back in 2020 I couldn’t comprehend it, it didn’t hit me for a few months until I started treatment,” Mr Randle said.

“Recently it still hasn’t sunk in to well. I don’t think I can comprehend what’s to come.

“I feel upset that I don’t get to live out my life.

“Being only 22 I’ve only just kicked-off things, left high school. I’m angry that I can’t do what I want to with my life.”

Mr Randle’s original diagnosis came about after his forced return from a mustering job in Queensland’s north, after breaking his hand and needing surgery.

“I was helping my grandfather at his antique shop in Kippa-Ring and I noticed I was getting more tired,” Mr Randle said.

“One night I got a really bad temperature and a headache and they called the ambulance and that’s when I found out what was wrong.

“Just a headache. For the treatments right now, before one of the options was to get a spinal tap for the chemotherapy, where they put a needle through your spine every time.

“Three days after that you’re just in pain all the time.

“I got this ommaya put in my head and no pain now, it’s so much easier.

“When it’s down to you wanting to live, you just go through it.”

Matthew Randle, fiance Lauren Gary and their dog Jager at Centenary Lakes Park, Caboolture. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

After being placed in remission, Mr Randle moved out with his fiance to live on her parent’s farm in Kilcoy.

Mr Randle described himself as an outdoors kid and enjoys his time on the farm, keeping himself busy with odd jobs on the land.

Amazingly Mr Randle only met his girlfriend Lauren two weeks before his diagnosis in 2020 and she’s stuck by him since.

“I felt like I distanced myself a little bit because I didn’t want to put her through anything but she kept coming to visit me in hospital

“She stuck around me, I don’t know why

“Your family and friends when it comes down to it, they’re all there for you.

“They’ll do anything and everything for you and you can rely on them.

“It’s hard for me because I don’t like asking for help.”

Mr Randle’s mother started a fundraiser to help her son’s bucket list come through before it’s to late.

So far more than $8000 has been raised.