‘Cuddles with my dogs’: What cancer patient Maddy misses most about her Tassie home

A young girl from Hobart who is battling cancer from a hospital bed in Melbourne is counting down the days until she can return home as she prepares for a tough few months ahead. HER STORY >>

FROM her hospital bed in Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, young cancer patient Maddison Arthur is counting the days until she returns home to Tasmania and is reunited with her much-loved dogs, Billie and Buddy.

The 11-year-old Kingston girl and her mum, Sarah Higginson, have been away from home since October 2021, when Maddy had to make a hasty return to hospital after suffering a relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).

“Maddy is undergoing five rounds of extremely intensive chemotherapy treatment,” Ms Higginson said.

“She has just completed cycle three, so two more to go, followed by radiation. Once this has finished, we hope to be back home in late July.”

Cancer Crusaders Sharon Markovic and Ruth Murray virtually visit cancer patient Maddison Arthur, 11, from Hobart. Picture: Alex Coppel.

For brave Maddy, who has already fought off leukaemia once in 2018-2019, these next few months will be difficult.

“I am most looking forward to cuddles with my dogs and taking them to the beach,” Maddy said.

“I also want to have a sleepover with my friends and get back to school (at St Aloysius).

“It’s draining when I am in hospital, because there is so much treatment, but I really like spending time with the art therapist and teachers, they are great.”

Ms Higginson said the past few years of Maddy’s health rollercoaster had been tough, but she tries to stay positive and with the expert help of the Royal Children’s Hospital, she never loses hope.

Sarah Higginson (mum) and daughter Maddison Arthur, who is hospital with leukaemia. These are Maddy’s dogs, Buddy is the darker dog on the left, Billie the lighter colour on right.

“Watching your child go through so much invasive treatment is heartbreaking,” she said.

“It takes everything you have to hold it together and keep a brave face for your child. They rely on you for support, they can’t see your worry and fear.

“We feel very fortunate to be at the RCH Melbourne. The staff and facilities are amazing. I have every confidence in their expertise and even the volunteers play a crucial role. “Fundraising is critical to keep vital research ongoing to help kids like Maddy, and thousands of others.”

Ms Higginson said she and Maddy made “a great team.”

“We focus on the positives ... Maddy is kicking goals and we aim to be back late July to pick up our lives.”

News Corp, publisher of the Mercury, is backing the Good Friday Appeal which raises funds for the Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital.

Since the appeal was started in 1931, more than $399m has been raised for the hospital.

Donations can be made by visiting goodfridayappeal.com.au

Readers can follow Maddy’s journey on Facebook at #TeamMaddy.

‘Traded school bag for hospital bag’: Little Oscar’s brave fight

A “cheeky” four-year-old from northern Tasmania who loves fishing, riding his bike and squelching around in mud is in “high spirits” despite a shock leukaemia diagnosis which has meant he now spends the lion’s share of his time in and around Royal Hobart Hospital.

Little Oscar Cripps, 4, was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia one week ago after he fell ill earlier this year just days before he was due to start kindergarten at Deloraine’s Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School, his father Nick said.

Mr Cripps said the family went back and forth with tests and antibiotics until doctors were finally sure of their diagnosis, with chemotherapy due to commence in the coming weeks.

“He’s very frustrated (and) not himself, the treatment slows him down,” Mr Cripps said.

“He feels tired, it takes some of that energy away.

Western Creek boy Oscar Cripps, 4. Picture: Gofundme

“He knows he’s sick, he just wants to ride his bike and do those things that mean a lot to him.

“Other than that, his spirits are high.

“He doesn’t know how long process is going to be, being a 4-year-old he doesn’t understand whole situation.

“But he’ll push through.”

Mr Cripps, who said Oscar is a “very cheeky little bugger” who lives for the outdoors, riding his bike, fishing, and “running around in the mud”, has been overwhelmed by the support provided by his local Western Creek and wider Meander Valley community.

“It’s unbelievable how so many people have got behind us,” he said.

“It’s the support everyone ringing us up, a pat on the back, a massage voucher for (partner) Shantelle so she can get out for an hour or so when I make it down to Hobart, they really do help.”

Western Creek boy Oscar Cripps, 4. Picture: Gofundme

The news had, of course, rocked Mr Cripps and his partner to the core, he said.

“It’s a shock to the system.

“You change the approach of how you live your life.

“But you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”

Oscar’s aunt Melissa, Mr Cripps’ sister, said ongoing treatment for her “little pocket rocket” nephew could last for several years.

“Oscar has now swapped his school bag for a hospital bag in preparation for a very long road ahead,” she said.

A fundraiser set up by Ms Cripps’ to support her brother, nephew and sister-in-law has so far raised $10,400 at the time of publication.