Geelong boy Huxley Bond diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

A Geelong family were left shocked after a cough that wouldn’t go away led to their little boy being diagnosed with a rare blood cancer.

Geelong boy Huxley Bond, 8, has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive blood cancer. Picture: Supplied

A cough that wouldn’t go away led to a Geelong boy being diagnosed with a rare cancer.

Huxley Bond was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare and aggressive blood cancer that affects the bone marrow.

His dad Adrian Bond said doctors diagnosed his eight-year-old son with croup as he had a persistent cough in February. and was occasionally struggling to breathe.

He was prescribed antibiotics and his condition settled but did not go away completely.

About two weeks later, Huxley saw his doctor again who recommended he get an X-ray.

“It showed there was a mass in his chest,” Mr Bond said.

“We then went to Geelong hospital’s emergency department and they did some blood tests.

Hospital staff wanted to do a CT scan, but Huxley had fluid in his chest which was pressing against his heart and lungs.

Within a few hours, he was rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne on March 6 and was diagnosed with leukaemia the next day.

Huxley is currently on steroids and pain medication and is on three different types of chemotherapy through a drip as part of a two year treatment plan.

It’s expected he will be staying at the RCH for about five weeks with his family travelling back and forth from Geelong.

Huxley has been unable to have a lumbar puncture, which is used for diagnostic purposes and can help form a treatment plan, due to the fluid around his heart.

“That has been put on hold until we can get the mass under control,” his mum Lauren Bond said.

“(The mass) hasn’t added any extra pressure to his heart and most of the time it will disperse naturally.”

Huxley in hospital. Picture: Supplied

He is battling a rare form of blood cancer. Picture: Supplied

Mr Bond said Huxley was a cheeky boy who loved to play basketball and soccer.

“He is usually very active,” he said.

“He is a very athletic kid and always full of energy so (his diagnosis) was a massive shock.”

Huxley is also a big fan of the Essendon Bombers and was lucky enough to meet midfielder Archie Perkins at the RCH on Wednesday.

A Go Fund Me page, ‘Help Huxley fight leukaemia’, has been set up to help the family cover the cost of medical bills and daily expenses which has raised more than $6000 so far.

“It’s very appreciated and it’s been amazing to see the support so far,” Mr Bond said.

“We’re very grateful to those who have donated.”

Originally published as Geelong boy Huxley Bond diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia