The cuddly super sidekicks giving courage to kids with cancer

Before being diagnosed with ALL in the Autumn of 2021, four-year-old Roxy was as active as they come; raised on trips to the beach, summer afternoons playing soccer and learning to dance. Her mum Bec recalls her relentless activity before her diagnosis:

She just loves anything outdoors. Before she was diagnosed, she loved riding her scooter and her bike, swimming, playing with her puppy dog and most recently, she’d got into dancing.

Roxy’s treatment started immediately, and over the 18 months since being diagnosed, she’s undergone an intense combination of treatments including surgery and regular chemotherapy. As a result, Roxy’s many activities and hobbies have had to take a back seat, but hopefully just temporarily. Bec continues: 

She wants to get into gymnastics when she’s better, but she also wants to do soccer because her brother and sister play it, and her little kindy buddies are playing touch footy, so she obviously wants to do that too! She’s very outgoing and just wants to join in with everyone!

For kids like Roxy, treatment can be long and intense, not to mention the fear and uncertainty cancer can bring. It can be months or years without normal contact with friends or playing like all kids should and so distractions, comfort and a friend to lean on are needed more than ever. Thankfully, that’s exactly what Roxy got courtesy of kind supporters like you donating cuddly bears.

Mum Bec explains the moment Roxy was given her bear last Easter and how it became her little sidekick, always giving her the extra courage she needs:

It was Easter last year when Roxy got her first bear. I’d taken her for her chemo at the hospital, and the lady at the front desk had a whole bunch of new bears ready for the kids coming in. She asked Roxy if she wanted one and she had this enormous smile on her face before the bear even reached her arms – it was just priceless!

It was a small moment that wasn’t about cancer or chemotherapy, just a moment of pure joy. That bear has been pretty much glued to her ever since, providing countless moments of distraction, happiness and strength!

She’s such a happy-go-lucky kid and is full of personality. She’s always smiles and thumbs up, she really is a little superhero to me − but even the bravest superheroes need a sidekick!

They really have the power to give her that extra bravery when she’s low and give her that encouragement she needs when she’s having a tough day of treatment. It’s a small thing, but for a four-year-old enduring lumbar punctures and some nasty chemo every week, it makes an unbelievable difference.