Young cancer survivor Chase Green’s infectious smile ‘gave everyone strength’

Little Chase Green is living proof an infectious smile can help win even the biggest battle of all.

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Little Chase Green is living proof an infectious smile can help win even the biggest battle of all.

The six-year-old is celebrating a year in remission from a rare form of childhood kidney cancer known as Wilm’s tumour.

Chase Green is currently a happy, healthy kid in remission from his cancer. Picture: Toby Zerna

Two years ago, Chase, then aged just 4, developed a bulging tummy and tonsillitis.

His mother Kelly took him to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead where scans revealed a “very large” 13cm tumour inside one of his kidneys.

“It all happened so quickly with his diagnosis and the doctors’ explanations and the treatment plan but it was devastating,” Ms Green said.

“It was the most heartbreaking, devastating moment any parent could have in their life … (cancer) is something you hear of but never hear it happen to anyone you know, let alone your own family.”

Chase Green in hospital.

His mum said he always had a smile on his face.

Surgery removed the tumour but Chase still had to go through 12 brutal cycles of chemotherapy, requiring 26 blood transfusions to keep him alive.

Ms Green said her “loud, outgoing” son kept smiling throughout it all.

“I remember holding back tears … while he was with me at the hospital, and he said to me once, ‘Don’t cry, Mum, I’m not going anywhere’,” she said.

“He’s a very confident, determined little boy. He didn’t complain even when he felt sick from chemo, and he always kept a smile on his face. The strength he had was given to everyone else somehow.”

Chase with his sister Kyndra near his home in Spring Farm, in southwest Sydney. Picture: Toby Zerna

Chase’s many hospital visits were made a little brighter by the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which gave him an “escape” from treatment.

The Foundation’s Starlight Day on Friday aims to raise funds to brighten­ the lives of other seriously ill children during their lengthy stays in hospital.

Chase is now a healthy, active boy. Picture: Toby Zerna

“It’s the hardest and most painful time of your life is when your child is very ill,” Ms Green said.

“But the happiness Starlight gives you brings that positivity back into your life when at first you struggle to find a positive in anything.”

Donate to Starlight Children’s Foundation at starlightday.org.au

Originally published as Young cancer survivor Chase Green’s infectious smile ‘gave everyone strength’