Adelaide dad Peter Valle told daughter Hailey Valle’s cancer is terminal

Little Hailey Valle has spent the last few years bravely fighting despite her parents facing “red tape” getting her into a clinical trial to give her better odds.

Hailey Valle with her dad Peter, mum Nicole and sister Hannah. Picture: Supplied by family

Four-year-old Hailey Valle loves Disney princesses, ballet and country music.

She has an infectious smile and loves to make up her own songs.

“She’s a beautiful kid, who always says ‘I love you’,” her dad Peter Valle told The Advertiser.

“But I tell myself, don’t skip ahead to the grieving yet, because she’s still here.”

Hailey, Mr Valle’s youngest daughter, only has a few weeks left to live after doctors discovered she relapsed with acute myeloid leukaemia (‘AML’) a second time.

“Each time is the worst day of your life but repeated,” Mr Valle, 33 said.

“When she was diagnosed, the worst day of your life, when she relapsed the first time, then again, the second.

“Because you just know with each time you’re facing the reality that she is not going to be with us for much longer.

“But I’m sure I’ve got a worse day of my life yet to come.”

Hailey Valle, who has been given only a few weeks left to live after a leukaemia diagnosis, with her dad Peter, mum Nicole and sister Hannah. Picture: Supplied by family,

Hailey the first time she saw snow. Picture: Supplied by family

Mr Valle and his wife Nicole Valle were willing to “lose everything” so Hailey could fight AML.

“The feeling that makes me feel the most hollow is, you do everything you possibly could and it’s still not enough,” the Angle Vale dad said.

“That’s what I’m having trouble accepting.”

Two years ago Hailey was experiencing flu-like symptoms that wouldn’t disappear.

Tests revealed she had AML.

Hailey underwent chemotherapy until eventually she moved to Sydney with her family for a stem cell transplant.

Five months later the leukaemia returned.

Mr Valle researched his daughter’s condition and came across a clinical trial in Australia. Picture: Supplied by family

However, Hailey was not able to participate in the Australian trial because it was only available in adult hospitals. Picture: Supplied by family

Throughout his daughter’s illness Mr Valle researched how to help his daughter.

He came across a clinical trial available in Australia — however it was only being conducted in adult hospitals.

“This is where we encountered the most frustration,” he said.

“You have doctors telling you she’s a good candidate for the trial drugs here in Australia but she’s not able to participate.

“The main reason we got was that if an emergency was to arise … the staff aren’t trained to manage emergency pediatric situations.

“I would understand it more if it was an IV medication, but it’s oral.”

Mr Valle said his only goal as Hailey’s dad was to protect his daughter.

“You’re being told that there’s something that can give her a better chance than no chance and there’s red tape blocking her from accessing it here in Australia,” he said.

Hailey continued ballet classes while in Memphis Tennessee where she also had treatment at St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for AML. Picture: Supplied by family

Hailey and her sister Hannah do not know that Hailey is terminally ill and has a prognosis of only a few weeks. Picture: Supplied by family

It left the Valle family with no choice but to travel to Memphis, Tennessee to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for treatment.

“You’re confronted with the choice of basically letting your child go palliative or go where there might be a chance,” Mr Valle said.

So Hailey underwent further treatment and another stem cell transplant.

She spent around a year until, until Mr Valle noticed one of his daughter’s pupils were dilated.

Tests revealed the cancer had infiltrated her brain, spinal fluid and optic nerve.

She underwent radiotherapy and proton beam therapy to allow her to be well enough to return to Adelaide.

“We didn’t want to risk her deteriorating and getting stuck in the States and then not being able to see family again,” Mr Valle said

Hailey has an older sister, six-year-old Hannah — both girls are not aware of what is coming.

“We don’t want to make them scared of something that they’re not going to understand quite fully and we want them to be normal sisters for as long as possible,” Mr Valle said.

For now, the Valle family is creating unforgettable memories together.

Hailey is meeting Disney princesses, dancing and spending time with her family.

If you’d like to donate to the Valle family, you can here.

Originally published as Adelaide dad Peter Valle told daughter Hailey Valle’s cancer is terminal