Love family prepares for new life and death fight after being hit by triple tragedies

A boy reeling from the loss of his mum to a sudden heart attack, is now preparing for the fight of his life. Find out why – and how you can help.

A young boy still dealing with the heartbreak of losing his mum to a sudden heart attack, is now preparing for the fight of his life.

Nathaniel “DonDon” Love, 11, was diagnosed with leukaemia in February after he woke up with an “extremely swollen face”.

Nathaniel, who lives in Craigmore with his older brother Ethan Love, 35, had been feeling “very flat and drained” for the last month before his diagnosis.

He went to the hospital where he underwent a range of tests and later doctors gave him and his family the heartbreaking diagnosis.

Nathaniel Love, was diagnosed with leukaemia in February this year and must travel for a bone-marrow transplant. Picture: Supplied by family

“I am scared as hell and frightened and nervous about certain things,” Ethan told The Advertiser, adding: “He’s very brave.”

Ethan, who shares a father with Nathaniel, said he quit his job as a waterproofer to support his younger brother.

He will travel with him to Sydney where the youngster will undergo a bone-marrow transplant, once he’s completed his rounds of chemotherapy.

Nathaniel (middle right) with his older brother Ethan (right) and his brothers Tobias (left) and Terrance (middle left). Picture: Supplied by family

Nathaniel loves video games, especially Fortnite. Picture: Supplied by family

Nathaniel’s mother, Margarita Bendessi, lost her life suddenly three days after Nathaniel’s 11th birthday in May last year after she had a heart attack.

“They’re still dealing with that,” Ethan said.

“And my dad’s been unwell himself so that’s why I’ve stepped in and taken full care of my youngest brother.

“He doesn’t have that motherly support.”

Ethan said his brave brother has remained strong throughout his treatment – and he only notices Nathaniel’s unwell when he’s too sick to play video games.

“He’s a pretty big gamer as most 11 year olds are,” he said.

“Some nights, he would not want anybody to stay (in the hospital) because it ruins his gaming time.

“The nurses have to put up a time for him to go to bed otherwise he would stay all through the time and go to sleep at 6am if he could.

“Obviously this process is going to be very traumatising for him and … this game has made him feel so alive, where he doesn’t care about anything else that’s going on in the real world.”

Nathaniel will need to stay in Sydney for at least four months. Picture: Supplied by family

In 2019, Ethan’s other younger brother Kieran Agius, who played football for Norwood, died of brain cancer when he was only 21 years old.

“I was very traumatised from that … then hearing this again … it was very hard for me,” Ethan said.

Nathaniel will head to Sydney in four weeks time for at least four months to undergo a bone-marrow transplant.

The transplant could not be done in Adelaide.

If you want to donate to Nathaniel you can here.

Originally published as Love family prepares for new life and death fight after being hit by triple tragedies