Sunshine Coast eight-year-old Jaxon Petty beats leukaemia, lives out helicopter flying dream

A ‘cheeky’ boy sentenced to months of agonising hospital isolation battling cancer has lived out his dream to fly a helicopter – after watching choppers land from his hospital bed got him through his darkest days.

Jaxon Petty and captain Andy. Picture - contributed.

A ‘cheeky’ SEQ boy sentenced to months of agonising hospital isolation as he bravely battled a deadly cancer during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic to live out his dream of flying a helicopter.

Six-year-old Jaxon Petty’s world of playing soccer with his schoolmates, laughing with his older siblings, and learning about the world through his doting parents came crashing down when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2022.

“It was so sudden,“ mother Melissa Petty said.

“We were in shock and disbelief to hear this diagnosis for our healthy, fit, active little boy.”

Jaxon Petty prior to his cancer diagnosis. Picture - contributed.

Jaxon endured eight months of chemotherapy, plus radiation therapy and a bone-marrow transplant. Six months of immunosuppressants meant long, lonely days in isolation due to the increased risk of infection.

During his agonising months of treatment, six-year-old Jaxon would sit by his hospital window to watch the helicopters come and land on the hospital helipad.

It helped take his mind off the pain and isolation of suddenly being banished from his normal life.

It was heartbreaking for Jaxon to be away from his sister Bella and brother Logan. He missed playing soccer with his friends and being outside.

“The hardest part for Jaxon was not physically being able to do things he enjoys like simply kicking a ball,” Mrs Petty said.

Jaxon, Bella, Logan, Melissa, and Kirstian Petty. Picture - contributed.

The family’s life was turned on its head.

Mrs Petty had to stop working as a nurse to live with Jaxon in Brisbane and dad Kirstian Petty had to reduce his hours significantly to be there for their other children at their Beerwah home and travel to and from the hospital.

“The journey of a critically ill child is about the whole family,” Mrs Petty said.

“He’s been through so many painful, scary procedures, and being separated from his friends and family. Cancer stole a lot of his childhood.”

Jaxon Petty. Picture - contributed.

Thankfully, Jaxon had the fun of Captain Starlight in hospital to help bring him some vital moments of happiness.

When he was confined to the ward, Jaxon would look forward to dialling into the Starlight Express Room to play Bingo via Starlight TV.

“The Captain Starlights were a great distraction for Jaxon and gave him something fun to look forward to on those long days stuck in a hospital room,” Melissa said.

After nearly 12 months of treatment and countless painful procedures, Jaxon received the exciting news that he’d been granted his Starlight Wish.

As a fan of planes and helicopters, his wish was for a ride in a chopper and to visit the helicopter training academy.

Jaxon Petty. Picture - contributed.

For his wish, Jaxon trained to become a co-pilot using the flight simulator at the training centre.

He then put his training into action getting to co-pilot in a real helicopter.

A very special part of Jaxon’s wish was when he got to land the helicopter on the helipad on the top of the children’s hospital – just like he used to watch from his hospital room window.

He also got to “rescue” his dad with the helicopter winch, lifting him up to safety.

Jaxon Petty and captain Andy. Picture - contributed.

“It was such a special family experience to see him so happy,” his mum said.

“In hospital, Jaxon would pretend to be a rescue chopper pilot off the end of his bed. His Starlight Wish gave him the chance to experience it for real and is something we will remember forever.

“It feels like his life has come full circle.”

As a part of Jaxon’s wish he even had a custom pilot uniform made – fit with his very own name badge.

“We all held our breath but now we feel there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” Mrs Petty said.

Jaxon Petty. Picture - contributed.

After what seemed to be a never-ending, agonising, battle Jaxon has now been cancer free for a year.

“He looked stunning in his pilot uniform and felt so special. It was amazing to see him so happy after everything,” Mrs Petty said.

“He’s just returned to school and has been able to start playing soccer again.

“He’s my little hero.

“He loves the outdoors, is a real boys boy, loves soccer and motorbikes and is incredibly smiley and cheeky.”

Jaxon Petty. Picture - contributed.

On Wednesday June 26, Jaxon was also invited to join Starlight families from around Australia for another special money-can’t-buy experience – Stars of the Future – at the Virgin Australia Training Centre and Brisbane Airport.

Bringing their aviation dreams to life, key moments included, learning to ‘fly a plane’ in the flight simulator, learning cabin crew procedures ie “lolly trolly” service, checking in passengers, baggage handling and even helping ‘push back’ a plane on the tarmac.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast eight-year-old Jaxon Petty beats leukaemia, lives out helicopter flying dream