'I got a splitting headache one evening, and I knew something was wrong'

“I was an extremely dedicated student who loved learning and socialisting, so one of the hardest things was accepting that I wouldn’t be able to return to school for the year and miss out on the Year 12 experience."

Sydney teenager Olivia was studying for her HSC when she started to notice a pain in her stomach every time she breathed.

She initially wrote it off as overeating or sore muscles after a workout, but it continued to get worse over the next 10 days.

Olivia then started noticing other strange symptoms.

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“I was becoming more and more tired,” the 18-year-old told Kidspot. “I needed to nap through the day and I was going to sleep much earlier than I usually do. I simply couldn’t keep my eyes open.

“These symptoms were then accompanied by aching bones. My back, hips and knees became progressively sore, and I thought I might have had a virus.

“As days went on other symptoms arrived. I lost weight when I wasn’t trying to, I was nauseous, and I couldn’t complete my holiday homework as my brain just wouldn’t work.”

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Olivia in hospital shortly after her leukaemia diagnosis. Picture: Supplied

Olivia started her treatment shortly after her official diagnosis. Picture: Supplied

"I thought I made have had glandular fever"

A few days before going back to school, Olivia was babysitting when she got a splitting headache, and at this point she decided she needed to get herself checked.

“I told my mum I needed to go to the doctor,” she said.

“I got night sweats and a lymph node on my neck, and I started getting high temperatures. I thought I might have had glandular fever.

“My friend came over the next day because it was hot and we were going to spend the afternoon in the pool, but I had to take a nap for an hour before we talked.

“When we went in the pool, I just sat on the first step because I was too weak to go any further.”

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Olivia said her first year of treatment was especially tough. Picture: Supplied

"It was overwhelming"

Olivia was sent to the emergency department at her local hospital, and it was there she got crushing news: she had leukaemia.

“The paediatrician came into my little space in the emergency department and told me I probably have leukaemia,” she said.

“I just cried as I wasn’t expecting it, I was convinced I’d be sent home with Covid or glandular fever. But no, it was cancer, and it was overwhelming.”

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Olivia missed out on Year 12, but still managed to graduate from hospital without repeating. Picture: Supplied

"They were one thing that got me through"

Olivia was officially diagnosed shortly after, and quickly began a course of chemotherapy to get on top of the disease.

“The first year of treatment was very difficult,” she said. “As many kids find, the chemo is hard but all the resulting illnesses are worse.

“I was very ill more than once and needed a high level of care, without which I wouldn’t be here today.

“The nurses and doctors at Sydney Children’s Hospital were all world class, and I never felt unsafe or like I wasn’t in experienced hands. 

“Not only did they provide my physical care that got me through last year, I also developed a special bond with them that made my days happy rather than sad.

“It’s a pretty difficult space to be in, but they were one thing that got me through.”

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Olivia received $5000 from the Dare to Dream Scholarship to help fund her first year of university. Picture: Supplied

"I missed out on the Year 12 experience"

Olivia is now in remission, but will continue her treatment until February next year. If she has no relapses for a further three years after that, she will be considered cured.

Possibly the most impressive thing about Olivia’s fight is that she still managed to finish Year 12 and graduate from high school without needing to repeat or split her year into two.

“When I was diagnosed, I’d just returned from summer holidays and was doing my second term of Year 12,” she said.

“I was an extremely dedicated student who loved learning and socialisting, so one of the hardest things was accepting that I wouldn’t be able to return to school for the year and miss out on the Year 12 experience.

“This really got to me for a while, but I did know I still wanted to finish Year 12 and not repeat or split my year into two.

“So, with the help of Trisha from a company called ‘Back on Track’, I was able to graduate and get into my top pick for university. Without her help, I wouldn’t have been able to move into the next chapter of my life.”

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Olivia will study paediatric nursing, a decision influenced by her time in hospital. Picture: Supplied

"I hope to make the same difference in other kids' lives"

Olivia will be helped out by the Redkite and Coles Dare to Dream Scholarship which is awarded to teenagers who have been affected by cancer.

She will receive $5000 towards her studies in paediatric nursing, a career choice she readily admits was heavily influenced by her experiences at the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

“I didn’t always want to be a nurse,” she told Kidspot. “I always thought I’d go into a science degree.

“However, being around all of the nurses on the ward who provided me and my friend’s care was inspirational, and I hope to make the same difference in other kids’ lives as they did in mine.”

Originally published as 'I got a splitting headache one evening, and I knew something was wrong'