Meet little Luna. A beautiful girl, with a cheeky smile and a force to be reckoned with.
Luna is a bright and funny two-year-old who loves collecting plushies, stickers, all things pink, drawing & colouring in, riding her trike, watching funny cat videos on YouTube, dancing and singing, painting, spending all her time outdoors and giving Smokey (her cat) cuddles.
From birth Luna has spent her fair share of time in hospital. She should not be living her childhood and growing up inside the white and clinical four walls of a hospital. She should be outside. In fresh air, playing in the sun, swimming, feeling the sand between her toes, exploring the world and enjoying herself like any other two-year-old.
In July 2023, we heard six little words no parents ever want to hear.
“I’m sorry, your child has cancer”.
It was discovered that Luna has a rare, aggressive, and fast spreading childhood cancer. She was diagnosed with high-risk stage IV neuroblastoma.
Her nerve cells had failed to mature properly, resulting in a grapefruit sized tumor growing off her kidney and adrenal gland. From there, it spread to her nearby lymph nodes, bone marrow and bones. Additionally, lesions were found in her pancreas and the primary tumor was found to be encasing her aorta. Her little body was riddled with cancer.
Only 40 children per year in Australia are diagnosed with neuroblastoma.
The five-year survival rate is 50%.
Without a moment to waste, Luna immediately began treatment. Her treatment plan is as follows: five rounds of induction chemotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy, multiple rounds of radiation, a bone marrow transplant, immunotherapy, and surgery to remove her primary tumour.
From the get-go, Luna has had numerous blood transfusions, platelet transfusions, biopsies, and has had two central lines imbedded into her chest for chemotherapy, IV nutrition, blood specimens and other necessary intravenous medicines. From the very first day, she has had a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube to help improve her nutrition and easily administer daily medications. Inevitably, she has had her NG tube replaced on numerous occasions. This is an extremely traumatic experience for her. Her baby, "Bubby", is also wearing a mini feeding tube and central line to help her get better too.
Since her diagnosis, Luna has completed her first two phases of her treatment plan: induction chemotherapy and consolidation therapy. Firstly, this consisted of five rounds of induction chemotherapy and surgery. Next came consolidation: high-chemotherapy coupled with a bone marrow transplant and a series of radiation treatments. Just last week, Luna successfully completed her radiation treatments. This consisted of 2.5 weeks of back-to-back sessions, where she required daily general anaesthetic.
Luna has encountered many obstacles on her treatment journey and road to recovery thus far. During her high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant at the beginning of the year, she suffered many terrible side effects. Even the “rare” ones. Like most children undergoing this treatment, she suffered terrible mucositis. This is essentially incredibly painful ulcers all the way from the lips, down the GI tract, to the bum. Next, she was diagnosed with veno-occlusive disease (VOD). VOD can be life threatening, particularly if early intervention is not provided. It causes liver tenderness, swelling, fluid retention and jaundice to name a few. Despite being on 8 hourly preventative medication, Luna still suffered this horrible side effect.
The worst was yet to come.
Luna’s oxygen requirements were alarmingly increasing by the hour. She was transferred to Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) where they deemed her to have two varying degrees of respiratory failure. We then learned Luna had a major pulmonary haemorrhage. The oncology, hematology and PICU teams were having difficulties understanding what was causing Luna’s critical condition. There, they diagnosed her with transplant associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (IPT). Due to her critical state, she was put on a ventilated mask to help with her oxygen requirements. Luna spent two incredibly difficult weeks in PICU. We were told there was a VERY high chance Luna would pass away from all of these complications. The teams were astonished by Luna’s speedy recovery and sudden turn around. It was anything short of a miracle. To this day, Luna is still receiving treatment for her ITP with weekly injections.
Nothing could prepare us as her parents and close family for this absolutely devastating news. While the family are heartbroken beyond words, we take comfort in the fact that children are resilient & they have a lot of love and support around them. She is receiving the best care possible and is currently undergoing treatment at the Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH).
I t is a long gruelling road ahead treatment wise and beyond.
Due to the harsh and toxic chemotherapies Luna needs to beat this monster, she will face numerous lifelong health issues. Some include: inability to have her own children, permanent hearing loss, digestive & thyroid issues just to name a few. The real kicker is, she is more likely to develop secondary cancers, such as Leukaemia, later on in life.
Due to the relentless nature of neuroblastoma, there is a 60% chance of relapse.
We have great faith and trust in her oncology team here at QCH, but there are limited treatment options available if she relapses. There are promising trials overseas in countries such as Rome & America. However, these come at an incredibly expensive cost which are out of reach for most people.
If Luna relapses, her chances of survival plummet to a mere 5%.
Unfortunately, Luna’s mother has had to take unpaid leave from work and become her full-time carer. Her father remains working where possible, but unexpectedly and regularly has to take time off.
We are fundraising to help ease the stress and burden of everyday household bills, plus the additional costs that come with caring for a child with a life-threatening illness. In addition, we are trying to save as best as possible to access costly treatments, such as the MSK bivalent vaccination and DFMO.
Amazingly enough, both therapies are the standard of care of US children fighting neuroblastoma. Both treatments have been proven to reduce relapse odds by 25% each. Sadly, we feel Luna is disadvantaged and at a loss due to where she resides. Australia does not currently offer these treatments or offer to provide assistance to families desperately trying to access these standards of treatments overseas.
We urgently need to raise $500,000 to get Luna the care she deserves to access at least one of the above drugs. They will greatly improve her chances of survival. With the vaccination, she will require 6 to 7 injections across a 2 year time-frame. Similarly, with DFMO, she will be required to take medication twice daily for 2 years. Naturally, this would mean multiple trips to America.
We would greatly appreciate any help with achieving our fundraising goal and helping save our daughter!
This fight ahead is huge and by no means easy. We are blessed each day to wake up and spend time with our daughter as we know days may be limited.
We know things are tight for everyone right now. Everyone is feeling the pressure of constant rises with cost of living. We please ask if you can support us in anyway, whether that is just to share our fundraising page or by a kind donation, any help that can be granted is help we would be forever grateful for.
Many people have generously asked how they can help our family. THIS IS HOW. We desperately need your help. Every dollar donated gets Luna that little step closer to securing the treatments she needs.
There is no denying Luna was dealt an unfair hand, right from birth. Please help us change that. Luna deserves to live a bright, happy, fulfilling and beautiful life. She deserves a fighting chance.
We cannot do this without you.
Sometimes real-life hero’s live inside little children fighting big battles! Luna is our real-life hero.
We need kinder childhood cancer treatment options to become a world standard of care made available to all Australian children. Whilst we are grateful in knowing that we live in a progressive country that people deem to be the lucky country, and while we do have access to healthcare, it is of no comfort when you are fighting to save a child who’s health care is actually limited just because of where she lives. Our children need advocates to promote better care and options to save these next generations. Too many parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, family, and friends of children diagnosed with cancer are all fighting to progress available lifesaving care. You never think such a terrifying thing will happen to the most vulnerable member of your family. But everyday Australian families who are impacted by childhood cancer are all just begging for help and doing everything they can to save their children. Those of us who would never dream of asking for the help of strangers are humbly asking, just so we can know we are doing everything we can to save our children. One helping hand can share our pleas for help, which can lead to many helping hands. They say it takes a village to raise a child. We know it will take a country to save all of our children. We need the government to advance our cancer care for children’s survival odds to be equal to America and Rome.
If love was the currency to cure cancer, Luna would be thriving and living her best life carefree like any other two-year-old.
Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
To keep up to date with Luna’s journey, follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/Brave.Like.Luna
Thank you to my Sponsors
$20
Anonymous
$100
Kerryn Lamshed
$50
Suzie Grollino
$100
Valeria Trapani
$500
Anonymous
Wishing little Luna much love and good health for the future.
$100
Megan Patterson
$100
Skye Miller
Love you Luna
$30
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
$20
Kristy O'brien
Stay strong sweetheart
$25
Belinda Edwards
$5
Elizabeth Abel
Good luck Luna!
$10
Kelly Wilson
$100
Jan Sheffield
Dear Luna and Family, You are often in my thoughts. Stay strong, little girl!
$3
Anonymous
Lots of love and support ❤️ happy birthday
$20
Megan Patterson
$100
Susan Papi
My heart goes out to you all. So brave.
$100
Jan Sheffield
Thinking of you, Luna, and your family, you are so strong, stay positive
$5
Jessie Munoz
Sending you all so much love and light. I’m praying for Luna. You are so inspiring. You got this baby girl!
$50
Jade Symonds
Sending love to all x
$20
Netty Jackson
$500
Anonymous
$25
Ben Parker
What a brave and beautiful little soul Luna is.
$200
Jan Sheffield
Dear Luna and Family, I hope all is good for you. I think about you often and wich you all the best. Jan Sheffield
$200
Victor & Rita Gocentas
Luna, you are a brave little girl and we sincerely hope that all the help you need will come your way.
$20
Sandra Robb
Thinking and praying for you all
$35
Anonymous
$250
Conrad Van Deventer
Good luck Luna, you are in our thoughts and prayers
$100
Steve Kovac
Good luck Luna!
$50
Nick Brazier
$20
Maddison Williams
Thinking of you Luna!
$100
Con Vouvoulis
God bless and our prayers and thoughts are with you Luna
$50
Douglas (doug) Munro
Kids are precious
$100
Tsutomu Kunomura
$50
Anonymous
Be Brave <3
$20
Anonymous
$100
Cairns Police Comms Social Club
Good luck Luna
$25
Anonymous
$20
Anonymous
$50
Nori Kawakami
$50
Ryan Packenham
$20
Michael Cunliffe
$50
Roxanne Freeman
$100
Rebecca Capes
$30
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
❤️
$50
Todd Yang
Hope little Luna will get help and recover very soon
$100
Kristyn Miller
$100
Mark Dorward
$100
Erin Wyss
$50
Lara Garth
Good luck Luna! We are praying for you and your family.
$100
Kevin Dwan
$50
Robin Bhasin
$50
Tonia Leeson
I'm wishing you Luna a long and loving life. 💕 I know it's only a small amount but I hope it can help in some small way. Stay strong mum and dad 🌻
$50
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$200
Danielle Anderson
$100
Desley & David Moss
We heard about your fight Luna from friends of the Bundaberg Prostrate Cancer Support Group. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you walk life's path. Keep up the fight.
$485
Anonymous
$50
Tracy Richard
Praying for you Luna and family.
$50
Dharmesh Tailor
$50
Dharmesh Tailor
$50
Anonymous
Luna, I hope your family is able to raise the funds needed to get you treatment.
$100
Cheryl Coster
So Brave 💕Love to you all 💕Keep the strength and magic happening 🧚🏻
$450
Behind The Bear
With love from the Behind the Bear supporters xoxo
$100
Jan Sheffield
All the best for Luna's treatment, what a delightful little girl!
$1,000
Norma Gauci
Stay strong beautiful Luna xxx
$200
Paul Clapcott
Wishing you all the best. ❤️
$100
Anonymous
$200
John Ryan
$10
Anonymous
$900
Anonymous
$100
Lesley Pring
$20
Anonymous
$50
M S
$100
Anonymous
$50
Sallie James
$100
Prahlad Raninga
Dear Luna. I am cancer scientist working towards finding a better treatment for neuroblastoma. I wish you a very good health and hope you come out this as a champion. Lots of love.
$25
Hannah Bryant
$50
Anonymous
$100
Kath Angus
$150
Jacki Ivey
$30
Liz Loveridge
$100
Troy Mcneish
My positive thoughts are with you Luna. You can do this!
$50
Anonymous
$50
Lyn Rumsey
Hope my small amount can help get the treatment you need . Good luck beautiful girl.
$10
Anonymous
$70
Natalie Zakhem
$5
Anonymous
$150
Anonymous
$50
Tammie Neller
Much love to Little Luna. David Baker.
$100
Jan Sheffield
Don't give up hope! All the best for Luna's ongoing treatment
$20
Anonymous
$20
Mark Flynn
$20
Victoria Heenan
All the best, Luna and family 💗
$20
Tai Burgess
From a member of your QPS family. All the best kiddo.
$20
Luke Cavaliere
$50
Gary Hiles
Don't stop believing - you'll get there.
$50
Adam Dickens
Good luck little one. Out thoughts are with you and your family.
$50
Betty Sav
$50
Anonymous
All the very best to Luna..
$50
Tony Quirk
Good luck little angel...
$100
Anonymous
Waheguru Mehar Kare 🙏🏻
$50
Anonymous
$10
Anonymous
$10
Hannah Bryant
I know this isn't much but wishing nothing but the best for Luna and her family and hope you kick cancers butt!!!!!
$10
Hannah Bryant
$50
Total Ear Hygiene
$100
Maree Porter
Thinking of you all. Xx
$50
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
$500
Wendy Alt
To Samantha,Taylor and brave Luna, I wish you well on your journey through cancer. Having been to the US myself for cancer treatment I am praying that you will find a cure. Fortune favours the brave!
$50
Anonymous
$50
Ian Baker
$100
Michael Good
Luna deserves every chance
$100
Anonymous
$200
Melissa Brown
Sending love
$50
Bernadette Prinsloo
Keep fighting little one xxx
$50
Martin Phelan
$50
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
I truly hope you raise the money to enable treatment in USA. Stay strong. Stay hopefully. Fight hard little Luna
$500
Anonymous
Wishing you All the very best on your journey, little Luna x
$50
Anonymous
Never give up.
$100
Peta Ryan
$10
Anonymous
Sending messages of love
$200
Suellen Ohl
$50
Anonymous
$40
Alaina Ferreira
💜 wishing you all the best of luck and success with the treatment.
$100
Angie Trouchet
I hope you get the treatment you need Luna
$10
Joseph Wood
Sending love and prayers to you and your family
$100
Anonymous
Beautiful little girl.
$25
Dennis Dennis Noel Manski
$30
Anonymous
$20
Anonymous
$20
Anonymous
Wishing you all the very best xxx
$20
Anonymous
$50
Alison Woodley
Praying for Luna and her family.
$10
Srikanth Thammaneni
She will be fine
$50
Anonymous
$355
La Bodega Taqueria
Tip money from the team at La Bodega Taqueria and the East Brisbane community ❤️ We are all thinking of you hoping you can get over to the US soon! XX
$50
Anonymous
$100
Phil Watt
$50
Anonymous
$25
Anonymous
$20
Jeda Lang
$20
K Mcnicol
I hope little Luna gets the treatment she needs
$100
Peter Greinke
$100
William Fletcher
$200
Patrick & Melody Rynne
Thoughts & Prayers with your beautiful little girl.
$100
Illidge White
$50
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
Best wishes little one!x
$20
Anonymous
Thinking of you Luna 🌻
$100
Debra Shields
Good Luck Luna. You can do it!!!
$20
Anonymous
Wish I could afford more good luck
$40
Angela Murphy
Lots of prayers for you beautiful girl and your family. Xo
$200
Anonymous
Get Better
$25
Julie Mcinnes
$200
Maureen Holding
$200
Anonymous
$30
Anonymous
Keeping you in prayers
$20
Anonymous
$150
Anonymous
God bless you
$20
Jess Dewhurst
Best wishes to you all
$30
Anonymous
$100
Gianni Giavon
Sending love from the team at Big W MacArthur.
$70
Anonymous
Sending you love and hope Luna.
$5
Anonymous
$20
Nick Page
With love and hope from Nick
$300
Mar Gra P/l - Gagliardo Family
Sending little Luna our Love, prayers and best wishes.
$50
Anne Sumner
💕💕💕
$100
Anonymous
$100
Michael Stoikov
$250
Richard And Kate Vines
With our very best wishes. Stay strong.
$50
Deborah Kapraras
With hugs
$100
Andrea Cullen
Much love,light and strength from Baby Raffa and family x
$100
Lydia Willoughby
$50
Anonymous
$50
Charmaine Butt
$20
Sallie James
I hope you get these special treatments Luna & live a full and happy life xx
$20
Megan Jarvis
$10
Anonymous
$100
Beverly Collicoat
$50
Anonymous
$30
Annette Hodge
Xxx good luck little one xxx
$100
Kim Baker
$50
Anonymous
Thinking of you and your family
$50
Annette Hobson
Thinking of you Luna xxx
$20
Kerrie Trounce
My heart goes out to Luna and her family. ❤️
$50
Anonymous
$50
Megan Said
$50
Anne Catlin
Good luck Luna.💕💕💕
$50
Anonymous
Good Luck Luna !!! Wish you strength and speedy recovery
$50
Joanne Moore
$100
Anonymous
$50
Anonymous
I wish you all the best with Lunas recovery
$20
Anonymous
Good luck
$100
Harshana Jayanetti
Wish you to be well Luna
$50
Whitby Family
All the best luck in this world for you.
$50
Anonymous
$50
Martin Butler
$100
Thi Bui
$50
Desley Oliver
Hope you reach your goal and get all the necessary treatment for Luna. Stay strong!!
$20
Anonymous
Best wishes Luna xxx
$20
Genevieve Skehan
$20
Olivia Weatherspoon
$50
Lani Zaubzer
Stay brave Luna!
$20
Anonymous
$50
Paul Ray
$20
Anonymous
Wishing you the best. Get well soon.
$50
Carrie-anne Tosato
We pray this brave little girl gets the treatment she needs to recover from this terrible diagnoses.
$50
Nadia Cavallo
All the very best with it all ❤️
$50
Anonymous
$500
Ashlee Smith
💛
$200
Anonymous
$25
Anonymous
$50
Chirag Dasani
$25
Anonymous
🫶
$100
Anonymous
$5
Anonymous
$10
Anonymous
$100
Niki Anesidis
Lovely little Luna, I will pray for you sweetheart.
$50
Anonymous
$50
Natalie Bunworth
Sending love and strength to Luna and her family and wishing Luna the best results with treatment fighting this beast 💛xx
$50
Catherine Thomson
$50
Lisa Adamson
In memory of Tom, who we lost to this terrible cancer.. so few understand the pain of watching your child go through the treatment.❤️
$50
Lisa Adamson
My donation is in a memory of my son Tom We lost to him to this terrible disease. Not many people can understand pain when dealing with as a parent you are in my thoughts and prayers.❤️
$50
Catherine Lockrey
$50
Betty Sav
Sending you lots of love and best wishes!
