(Photo: Box family)
September 27, 2016
South Burnett residents have taken the cancer journey of young Violet Box to heart, following the updates from her proud grandad, John Box, on social media.
Violet, 6, was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma on November 12, 2015.
A tumour, slightly larger than a tennis ball, was found growing on Violet’s adrenal gland near her left kidney. However, the cancer had also spread to her bones and marrow.
Childhood cancer is rare, and neuroblastoma in children older than two is even rarer.
John said Violet has just been admitted to hospital again this week for more treatment … her 16th admission since she was diagnosed less than a year ago.
She has gone through seven rounds of chemotherapy, surgery to remove the main tumour and one of her kidneys, a bone marrow transplant, radiation therapy and antibody therapy.
The cancer is now almost gone from her body. Violet is now on Round 3 of six rounds of immunotherapy.
Through all the treatments, all the hospital stays, her parents Craig and Colleen couldn’t stop thinking that children shouldn’t have to go through all this.
“Diagnosis should be sooner, treatment easier and kids cured,” Craig said.
“We know many children that have come before Violet and the decades of research have increased Violet’s chance of survival.
“I think of the Violets of Tomorrow …”
And so the family began fundraising for the Children’s Cancer Institute and the “Violets Of Tomorrow”.
The Box family are aiming to raise $40,000 before Violet’s 7th birthday on October 5.
The total currently stands as $23,819 and John is hoping the generosity of the South Burnett will help to push the figure closer to its target.
Taabinga Rotary Club has promised some of the profits from its recent Bookarama to the fund, and he is hoping some other service clubs and organisations will also come on board.
- External link: Violets Of Tomorrow (Facebook)
