Waverton birthday girl stays positive while being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at Sydney Children’s Hospital
WHEN Ruby Atkinson’s hair fell out during treatment for leukaemia, she left it out for the birds to use to make nests. She’s also ok with not having any hair because she “doesn’t get nits”.
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GIVING her hair to the backyard birds for their nests was one girl’s way of sharing her cancer journey with the world.
Waverton’s Ruby Atkinson, who turned five on Monday, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on March 14.
Her journey involves up to eight months of intensive chemotherapy and 18 months of further treatment.
So far Ruby has battled infection, zero immunity levels and long stints in isolation.
Her mother Stephanie Atkinson said the family was devastated when doctors told them Ruby had cancer.
Compounding the family’s distress was Mrs Atkinson’s mother surviving two heart attacks, the first by Ruby’s hospital bedside. “It was a very traumatic time,” she said.
But the chance of a cure is high and so are Ruby’s spirits.
Hospital is far from an enchanting realm, but for a young girl undergoing treatment for cancer it can be a world of wonder.
Her father Ed Atkinson said the Sydney Children’s Hospital had created a “magical place” with many wonderful charities.
“Ruby is surprisingly positive because of the magic and beauty of the hospital and how they distract patients from their treatment,” he said.
Charities which help include Clown Doctors, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Delta Dogs, Redkite and Camp Quality.
Mr Atkinson said Ruby missed her friends, ballet, swimming, school and playing like a “normal” child would. “She’s asked why she has ‘the bug’ in her body,” he said.
“When her hair fell out she put it on our deck for the birds to use to build their nests.
“She said she now likes having no hair because it means she can’t get nits.”
Ruby’s brothers play for the North Sydney United Football Club, which has rallied around the Atkinsons since her diagnosis.
Head coach Joe Liddle decided the club would host a charity day for the family and Leukaemia Foundation on Thursday from 9am at Cammeray Oval and The Oaks Neutral Bay.
Mr Liddle has lost members of his family to cancer. He gave Ruby a jersey with her name on it on her birthday.
Mr Atkinson said the club’s love and support was humbling. “There’s a huge beating heart at that club,” he said.
Full details about the North Sydney United Football Club fundraiser on Thursday, July 7 are available here.
The Leukaemia Foundation describes ‘ALL’
ACUTE lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common form of cancer in children. It is characterised by an overproduction of immature white blood cells.
Each year more than 300 Australians are diagnosed with ALL. Overall it is a rare disease, accounting for 0.3 per cent of all cancers diagnosed. It has a high rate of cure.
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