Family seeks cure in US
A Taranaki couple whose young son has a rare form of cancer are pinning their hopes for a cure on specialist doctors in New York.
Aly and Hayden Keeling have never been to the city, but say it’s one of only two places in the world that can save two-year-old Corey.
‘‘We don’t really have time to wait,’’ Aly said. ‘‘He needs to be treated quite urgently. The decisions we make now will ultimately decide whether he is going to survive this.’’
So tomorrow, the Keelings will move their lives to America.
Corey has neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system that Aly called ‘‘a nasty beast’’.
It was diagnosed in March after Corey’s daycare noticed his stomach was hard.
An ultrasound at Taranaki Base Hospital revealed a 12 centimetre mass. Corey was taken to Auckland for a scan at Starship Hospital and 13 hours later was receiving his first dose of chemotherapy.
‘‘Neuroblastoma tends to wrap itself around organs and veins, and in Corey’s case it invaded,’’ Aly said. ‘‘It went into one of his veins, which is quite uncommon, and there’s only one other case recorded worldwide of what Corey’s cancer has done.’’
After surgery to remove the tumour the Keelings thought they had been through the worst, but on September 4 tests showed otherwise.
‘‘We went in happy as, expecting the best, and we got a phone call later that night after scan results were in that dropped us to our knees again.’’
Doctors had discovered new growths as well as another spot of concern on Corey’s brain.
The new growth meant the cancer was now classified as a Central Nervous System (CNS) Relapse and could only be treated at two hospitals in the world, one in Barcelona and the other Memorial Sloane Kettering in New York.
Aly, who is American, hopes that because Corey has dual citizenship he will qualify for cover under certain healthcare plans.
If he does not, Aly guesses they will face a bill of around $2 million – which they cannot afford.
Aly and Hayden left their jobs and have been living in Auckland at Ronald McDonald house since March while Corey goes through treatment.
A Givealittle page has been set up by a friend to help with living costs in New York as they don’t know how long they will be there.
The target is $75,000 and as of Monday afternoon they had raised almost $26,000. Another Givealittle page was set up when they first arrived at Starship and they were blown away by the
support they received from the community, especially Inglewood Rugby Club and Rampage Gym.
Aly’s former co-workers at TSB in New Plymouth had been raising money through mufti days and bake sales and even filled the family’s freezer with frozen meals. ‘‘I wish we weren’t in this position and I wish they didn’t have to do this, but we’re really grateful for everything.’’
Besides his missing hair and the feeding tube, Aly and Hayden said you would never know Corey was fighting for his life.
‘‘He’s running around, he’s happy, he’s playing, he’s climbing, he’s cheeky, he’s two.
‘‘It could be the worst day for Hayden and I, but Corey still manages to smile and be happy. He just doesn’t understand what’s happening to him.’’