Isham family determined to grab “last moments of joy with Ned”.

In the past fortnight the Isham family has had the devastating news that their son Ned’s leukaemia, which appeared to be cured, has returned with aggression.

Kingston boy Ned Isham. The family has had the devastating news that Ned’s leukaemia, which appeared to be cured, has returned with aggression. Picture: LISA KUILENBURG

WITHOUT knowing how much time they have left, the Isham family is savouring every second with their precious little boy Ned.

In the past fortnight the family has had the devastating news that Ned’s leukaemia, which appeared to be cured, has returned with aggression.

“It’s a massive blow,” said his mum, Kingston GP Dr Emily Isham.

“All we can do is live in the moment.”

The family learnt the news on a routine medical check-up for Ned in Melbourne.

“I was just in shock ... from naive to numb,” Dr Isham said.

The Ishams returned home to Tasmania at Christmas, believing Ned, 6, was cancer free after travelling around the world in the battle against his leukaemia.

The little boy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at age two, and has spent the past two years enduring the harrowing side-effects of constant cancer treatments.

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Ned had his first bone marrow transplant in Melbourne in November 2017. When that transplant failed, the family moved to Seattle to be part of a CAR T-cell therapy trial.

Ned was able to be part of the trial after a crowd-funding campaign unearthed an anonymous overseas donation of $600,000.

Although the therapy did not cure Ned, it reduced the disease to the point he was able to undergo treatment to prepare him for a second bone marrow transplant.

The transplant, undertaken late last year, cut Ned’s cancer to an undetectable level – finally giving the family hope.

Ned even started school this term, and was able to get to class every day for the first two weeks.

“You go from thinking your child is cured and triumphant, and suddenly you are saying ‘Hey Ned you don’t have to go to school, we know you are tired, we know you are in pain’,” Dr Isham said.

She said there were no treatments left for Ned, as he would struggle to survive a third bone marrow transplant.

Instead of invasive treatments, Ned is now having palliative chemotherapy.

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The family recently spent a few days on the East Coast – flown up in a light plane and back in a helicopter, courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Ned’s dad, Seth Isham, said the short break gave them an opportunity to “grab the last moments of joy with Ned”.

“We are trying to make memories, and we were able to carve out some beautiful moments in a time of tragedy,” Mr Isham said.

He said the local community had also helped bring smiles, in spite of the pain.

While the family was away, Ned’s friends from Southern Christian College built a cubby in the backyard of the family’s Kingston home.

“It’s a physical show of all that love and support ... when Ned first saw it he couldn’t take a breath,” Mr Isham said.

Last night the local Kingston fire brigade also threw a party for Ned at his school.

“Our community has been incredible,” said Mr Isham.

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