Lauren Hill’s son Jasper diagnosed with congenital neuroblastoma, starts chemotherapy

What started as a dream pregnancy quickly spiralled into a nightmare for a Queensand couple and their soon-to-be born son.

Lauren Williams with Jasper, now seven weeks old, and Alayna, 3. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Two weeks from her due date Lauren Hill was given the devastating news.

Her unborn son had cancer and would need to start treatment from the moment he was born.

Born on September 5, little Jasper was sent straight to the Mater Mothers’ neonatal intensive care unit and three weeks later he started chemotherapy.

Jasper was born with a congenital neuroblastoma on his lower spine.

In some instances, when a baby is diagnosed with congenital neuroblastoma it will shrink and disappear once they are born but for Jasper, the neuroblastoma was already 7cm and was growing.

“It was already resting on the spinal fluid and was basically on the way to protruding on the spinal fluid, which would mean he would lose his legs and not be able to go to the toilet,” she said,” Mrs Hill said.

Baby Jasper received cae at Mater Mothers' Hospital. Picture: Supplied

“So really there was no option. They had to do chemotherapy.”

Neuroblastoma is a form of cancer that develops in the nerve tissue and is the most common extracranial solid tumour diagnosed during childhood. About 40 children national are diagnosed with neuroblastoma each year.

The devastating disease claims the lives of more children under the age of five than any other cancer.

“Because of the actual tumour size I had to have a caesarean because otherwise it could have squished into his spinal cord during labour,” Mrs Hill said.

Jasper Hill started chemotherapy for a congenital neuroblastoma at just three weeks old. Picture: Lauren Williams

Now two months on, the family - including dad Jaiger and big sister Alayna - are regularly travelling between their home on the Gold Coast and Brisbane for blood tests, scans and chemo.

“It has been tough on my daughter’s mind emotionally and then obviously on us,” she said.

“I’m in survival mode – I’m just keeping busy doing everything still and just tired from normal newborn life.

“(Jasper) is a little fighter. He’s quite strong with the chemotherapy and the tumour in general.”

Jasper could be looking at up to four rounds of chemotherapy, and will need regular check-ups over the next five years.

Jasper has endured a rough start to life. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Despite everything he is going through, Mrs Hill said Jasper is a bubbly, happy baby.

“He moves around a lot and he’s very fidgety because he gets quite happy,” Mrs Hill said.

“He loves his little bouncer – he just sort of bounces himself in it. And he’s starting to grab out to his sister and to me, which is quite cute.

“I have really just had hope the whole time. I haven’t really thought about anything else.”

Originally published as Lauren Hill’s son Jasper diagnosed with congenital neuroblastoma, starts chemotherapy