Elliott Stacey shares 2yo daughter’s shock cancer diagnosis

A shock diagnosis has shattered a pro wrestler and his family after it was discovered their “happy and healthy” daughter’s sickness was not simply something caught at kindy.

Pippen Stacey pictured with older sister Harper.

A well-known Sunshine Coast wrestler has opened up about the heartbreaking moment he and his wife were told the deadly reason their two-year-old daughter had stopped walking.

United Pro Wrestling owners Elliott and Jess Stacey’s two-year-old daughter Pippen had been sick for a number of months.

What was initially thought to be something she caught from kindy, was found to be much more sinister when she was diagnosed with B-cell Lymphoblastic Leukaemia - a blood and bone marrow cancer.

“She would get sick and then be good for a couple of days before getting sick again, that is where it started which was very uncommon because she has been such a healthy, happy baby,” Ms Stacey said.

Jess Stacey with daughters Pippen and Harper.

“The doctors had just kept telling us whatever she had was from kindy, but then she stopped walking.”

Ms Stacey said the news Pippen had B-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia came as “big, big shock”, however the family was optimistic the two-year-old would beat the disease.

“She’s lucky she probably has the best out of the worst type of cancer,” Ms Stacey said.

Elliott Stacey with daughter, Pippen.

Mr Stacey said he received his daughter’s cancer diagnosis on the anniversary of his father’s death, which took a “a few days to process”.

“It took me a couple of days to get my mind straight, with my dad it was a terminal diagnosis from the start so instantly that is where my mind went with Pippen,” Mr Stacey said.

Pippen’s treatment is expected to take two to three years.

Pippen Stacey, 2, has been diagnosed with cancer.

Mr Stacey said the support the family had received from the wider wrestling community from the Sunshine Coast down to the Gold Coast had been a positive to come from the heartbreaking diagnosis.

“It has been insane, everyone from the wrestling community to the basketball community, to the GoFundMe and people sending gifts for Pippen,” Mr Stacey said.

“A lot of the wrestlers have offered the rest of the year’s worth of merchandise sales to Pippen, it has been the positive out of it, seeing everyone come together, it has blown me away.”

The GoFundMe has raised more than $9000 in five days to help cover the family’s expenses while they are unable to work.

Originally published as Elliott Stacey shares 2yo daughter’s shock cancer diagnosis