Royal Children’s Hospital cancer ward mates unite in battle against leukaemia

WHEN your world is consumed by blood counts, chemotherapy, spiking fevers and isolation, best friends are everything, as these two five-year-olds at the Royal Children’s Hospital Kookaburra ward have found.

WHEN your world is consumed by blood counts, chemotherapy, spiking fevers and isolation, best friends are everything.

If the nurses on the Royal Children’s Hospital Kookaburra ward can’t find five-year-olds Xander Chung and Andy Jiang, they only need check the other’s room.

BABY HARVEY HOME AFTER EIGHT MONTHS IN HOSPITAL

ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL HELPS OSCAR RETURN HOME

BUMPER GUIDE TO MELBOURNE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL

The pair, both of whom have acute myeloid leukaemia, are inseparable.

Andy has been in hospital since he was diagnosed in September, three months after arriving in Australia from China with his family.

Xander Chung, and Andy Jiang, both 5, are inseparable as they fight leukaemia in the Royal Children’s Hospital. Picture: Jason Edwards

He then spoke only Mandarin — a first language he shares with Xander — but is now fluent in English and is known as the “cheeky, chatty” boy on the ward.

Dad Jimmy said as his son had prepared for a bone-marrow transplant, hospital staff had worked to not only give him the best medical care, but also distractions such as music therapy, clown doctors and school in the ward.

Keeping Andy in good spirits has been important given the aggressive nature of the blood cancer, and the heartbreak of sending his baby brother back to be cared for by family in China while he finishes treatment.

Twins Stella and Darcy Gibb can’t wait for the Ice Skating Wonderland to open for Kids Day Out. Picture: Eugene Hyland

ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL GIVES ISLA A FUTURE OF FUN

“We didn’t tell him what the disease is,” Mr Jiang said. “He does know he has bugs in his body and everybody here is helping him to fight against these bugs.”Meanwhile, an ice rink will be built at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Good Friday to celebrate Kids Day Out.

The rink will include a Teddy Bear Hospital, an Ice Skating Wonderland, games and entertainment.

Entry is free.

goodfridayappeal.com.au