Wallabies player David Giffin experienced years of anxiety over his son’s cancer diagnosis

TEN years after his son’s cancer diagnosis former Wallabies player David Giffin can still recall the anxiety he felt for years, wondering whether Joseph would live.

Former Wallaby David Giffin opens up about his son's cancer battle. Giffin's son Joe, 10, was diagnosed with a rare cancer when he was just two years old but has overcome the disease thanks in part to a service called RedKite.

TEN years after his son’s cancer diagnosis, former Wallabies forward David Giffin can still recall the anxiety he felt for years, wondering whether Joseph would live.

That feeling is what he remembers most about that time: The memory that won’t go away, even now when his son is officially cured and healthy.

Joseph, now 12, was diagnosed with a rare kind of cancer, neuroblastoma, when he was just two years old.

Critically ill: Joseph Giffin in hospital. Photo: Supplied

He went through more than four months of treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant, the most aggressive form of cancer treatment, which involved killing off all his bone marrow with high doses of drugs.

For about two months, Joseph was kept in an isolated room because he was so susceptible to getting an infection.

“Nothing prepares you, when you think you are living the perfect life, for the doctor to tell you your child has a life-threatening illness,” Giffin said.

“He was critically ill at a number of points, we were told at times there was a very low chance of survival.”

It was a long road to recovery for Joseph Giffin. Photo: Supplied

Putting on a brave face: Joseph Giffin undergoing treatment for a rare type of cancer.

In many ways, Giffin was fortunate. He had just retired from playing, so within days of Joseph’s diagnosis, the entire family was able to relocate from Canberra to Sydney so his son could get the best treatment.

Family and friends rallied around them. The sister of former Wallaby Owen Finegan, who they had never met, moved out of her house so that the Giffins had a comfortable place to stay while they were looking for their own home.

Giffin said that while he was fortunate, managing financial and work commitments were a burden for many. He heard many stories of parents splitting up under the pressure.

“Someone has to be at the hospital the whole time the child is being treated. I saw a lot of mums there all week, then the father would be there Friday night and over the weekend,” he said.

“I didn’t work and had a family that was supportive, everything logistically for us was very easy.

“I don’t know what you would do if were a single parent without a supportive family, and you had other children.”

Surviving treatment was also not the end of the ordeal — in fact the toughest part of the experience was the years of anxiety that came after.

David Giffin played 50 tests for the Wallabies but admits he didn’t know pain until he had to deal with the thought his son could die.

“The most difficult time was when he (Joseph) left hospital,” Giffin said.

“He had a scan every three months and we were told if he relapsed there was very little they could do,” Giffin said.

“We were faced with the prospect of a child who could relapse and wondering whether our child would die or not. We were extremely anxious about his health.

“The first few years were extremely difficult, waiting for results to come back.”

It was during this time that the family was directed to Redkite, which provides essential support to children, young people and their families during their battle with cancer.

“Redkite had a parents group which did conference calls where you could talk about how you were going, any issues and what you were going through,” Giffin said.

“That really, genuinely helped my wife and I get through that time.”

Life has now returned to normal for the family. Joseph is healthy, he is a school captain and he plays rugby, cricket and the violin.

While he has some residual health issues from his treatment, including a slight impact to his hearing, these were manageable.

“He’s a popular kid and we are obviously very proud of him,” Giffin said.

Happy and healthy. David Giffin with his family.

“He doesn’t himself remember a lot, only bits and pieces and this seems to get smaller and smaller as he grows up.”

But Giffin has certainly not forgotten the support his family received from Redkite. To this day, he is heavily involved with the organisation that provided him and his wife support all those years ago.

Giffin has joined Redkite’s regional council and said dealing with his son’s treatment had given him a new perspective on life.

“No one escapes life without dealing with problems,” Giffin said.

He said “to be conscious of that and be willing to support people who need that help”, was why he wanted to support Redkite.

“It’s very easy to get tied up in day-to-day issues, but something like this puts the focus on what is important and what you value, and the health of your family, your family and friends is really what is important.”

HELP KIDS WITH CANCER BY SUPPORTING REDKITE

The team at news.com.au is getting behind Redkite this year — our editor Daniel Sankey is going to play in the Redkite Celebrity AFL Match on Saturday night. Plus, we’ve got a great prize to give away to one lucky news.com.au reader!

You can win a signed Swans jersey plus 8 tickets to see the Sydney Swans vs GWS this Saturday, 28 June 2014 at the SCG.

Just tell us your favourite family moment in the comments box below, and you could be chosen as the winner. Make sure you leave your email address so we can get in touch if you win (winner is responsible for arranging your own travel and accommodation, if required, in Sydney).

The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 26 at 2pm, and you’ll need to be able to make your own way to the game on Saturday night.

The legal stuff: T&C are available here, and by submitting your answer you’re automatically agreeing to the T&C.

Tickets to the Sydney Swans v GWS Giants match on Saturday, June 28 at 7.40pm at the SCG are available at ticketek.com.au. Arrive early to watch Australia’s biggest celebrities take part in the Redkite Celebrity match.

This competition is now closed, a winner has been chosen and will be announced soon.