The family of renowned Sydney radio broadcaster Ray Hadley is facing a heart-wrenching new challenge as his four-year-old granddaughter, Lola, has been readmitted to hospital following a severe setback in her battle against leukaemia.
A Devastating Diagnosis After Early Hope
Just weeks after celebrating a major breakthrough in her treatment, the family's joy has been shattered. Lola has been diagnosed with veno-occlusive disease (VOD), a serious liver condition that can occur as a complication of high-dose chemotherapy. Doctors at Newcastle's John Hunter Children's Hospital confirmed the diagnosis after Lola became lethargic, slept for most of the day, and was in constant pain.
Her mother, Laura Clark, described the last two-and-a-half weeks as the worst period since Lola's initial leukaemia diagnosis. "I can't actually articulate the pain and the helplessness that you feel as a parent, not being able to save your child and you can't do anything but just sit there and hope that the medication works," Ms Clark told the Daily Telegraph.
The Family's Simple Christmas Wish
The family's focus has now shifted entirely to a single, heartfelt goal: having Lola home for Christmas. "Materialistic things just don't mean anything any more," Ms Clark explained. "Perspective, that's actually a gift that we've received, and the ultimate wish is that she's home with us, and with her sisters, and her grandparents, and to just be surrounded by her family that love her so very much."
The gravity of the situation was made starkly clear when Ms Clark asked the oncologist for the worst-case scenario. The doctor's sobering reply was: "If we don't get on top of this, she could die."
A Long and Rugged Journey
Ray Hadley, the former top-rating 2GB host, spoke of the emotional rollercoaster and the public's misconception that a child's cancer battle is quickly resolved. "The other thing people don’t understand is that after six months, people ask if she is better now," Hadley said. "It is a two-year journey at the very least, and all through that journey there are ups and downs."
He praised his daughter and son-in-law for handling the immense pressure "absolutely magnificently," and called Lola "an inspiration to all of us." Lola's journey began almost a year ago when the usually bubbly three-year-old was first rushed to hospital. Tests confirmed she had leukaemia, a disease that affects around 280 Australian children annually.
Despite the current crisis, there is a glimmer of hope. Lola is currently responding well to the new treatment. In a moment of joy amidst the struggle, she was able to leave her ward to see the hospital's Christmas tree and will officially launch the festive season at the John Hunter Children's Hospital by lighting the tree on Monday.
Hadley admits he remains "deeply worried" and feels helpless, placing Lola's future in the hands of the specialists. "You have these highs and lows and what we've learnt as a family is don't get too excited about the highs and don't get too disappointed about the lows because there is going to be that trough all of the time," he reflected.
This difficult setback comes just weeks after the family celebrated a happier event: the birth of Hadley's eighth grandchild, a girl named Indy Ray.
