"I was mentally preparing for a funeral for a newborn."
In 2020, Natasha and her partner Nathan received the news they didn't even know was possible.
Their second son Ashton was born in November, but rather than the celebratory occasion most parents get with the birth of a child, they were given the devastating news that their precious baby boy had Congenital Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
The first time Ashton looked at Natasha was a couple of days into chemotherapy, “He was talking to me through his gaze. He told me ‘Mum, I’ve got this. You don’t need to worry".
Natasha and Ashton
Ashton getting treatment
“When they took him out, they all kind of looked at each other—it was really, really quiet… I knew something was wrong".
Ashton was taken away to be assessed, before Natasha could hold him, or see him. About half an hour later, Natasha was shown a photo of her baby boy. She still chokes up at the memory of seeing him for the first time, “he was swollen and bruised with little lumps behind his ear, on his neck, on his back and on his eyebrow...”
Despite doctors not expecting him to survive his first treatment, Ashton was able to come home in April 2021 after finishing chemotherapy.
Families should never have to go through what Natasha and Nathan have.
Ashton went through three rounds of chemotherapy from when he was born in November 2020, through to April 2021. Each round lasted 5-10 days and took 4-6 weeks to recover from.
Little Ashton then went through a bone marrow transplant just after his first birthday in November 2021 and spent another Christmas in hospital.
Despite all the setbacks, Natasha says “he is the most energetic and playful little boy I know. He is absolutely beautiful and is bound to melt your heart. He has the most beautiful smile that would make anyone smile if they were having a bad day".
Ashton is now at home with his family, and he has no disease detected after treatment.
Families like Natasha's urgently need your help. Donate today to help fund lifesaving research that could help other families.
Baby Ashton
This is why your support right now is critical.
Unless we fund more research into childhood cancers, sadly many more children will die.
No child should have to go through scary, painful cancer treatment. And no parent should have to watch it happen.
Please make a generous gift, and support life-saving cancer research.
Today, childhood cancer kills more children than any other disease in Australia.
All cancers are cruel. But there’s something about childhood cancers that breaks my heart and sharpens my resolve, in equal measure. Together we can help protect these precious lives and get closer to our goal of a cancer free future.
Cancer Council FAQS
Where does my donation go?
Your generous donation will help fund Cancer Council's life-saving research, prevention and advocacy programs, and information and support services.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes. Cancer Council NSW is registered with the Australian Taxation Office as an Income Tax Exempt Charity: Charitable Fundraising Authority No. 18521. All donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
Will I get a receipt after donating?
Yes. Please ensure you enter the correct email address when donating to receive your receipt.
How else can I contribute?
There are many ways you can get involved and help change the lives of people affected by cancer. Some examples are:
