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T E A M R I V E R

@teamriver___

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Diagnosed With T-CELL ALL - 01.04.22
Transplant Received - 01.09.22
IN REMISSION - 01.12.22 🙏🏽
#TEAMRIVER 🎗

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More days like this ☀️❤️🙏🏻

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For Candice’s youngest son, River, his life was saved thanks to his older brother, Reid.

🗣️ “In 2022, at just two and a half years old, River was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

“He wasn’t responding to treatment, and his only chance at survival was a stem cell transplant.

“Miraculously, Reid was a perfect match, and River received his brother’s stem cells.

“But we needed to rely on my family, friends and community to financially survive cancer treatment.”

🩸 1 in 8 blood cancer patients in Australia are missing, delaying, or cancelling treatment because they can’t afford it.

📝 Help cut the cost of cancer by signing our petition at cutcancercost.org.au and call on governments to provide better financial support for Australians impacted by cancer.

#cancercommunity #cancersupport #cancercare #cancerawareness #childhoodcancer

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🩸 1 in 8 blood cancer patients in Australia are missing, delaying, or canceling treatment because they can’t afford it.

And our research shows the impact goes well beyond household budgets.

Money worries negatively affect the health and recovery of 44% of the 170,000+ Australians living with blood cancer.

📝 Help cut the cost of cancer by signing our petition at cutcancercost.org.au and call on governments to provide better financial support for Australians impacted by cancer.

If you or someone you love is impacted by blood cancer, we’re always here to help 💙

📞 Call 1800 620 420 or visit our website for specialised and expert support.

#cancercommunity #cancersupport #cancercare #cancerawareness #bloodcancer

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Your lived experience can help shape the future of childhood and adolescent cancer research.

We are seeking lived experience reviewers to help ensure the research we support is relevant, inclusive, transparent and grounded in real-world needs. If you have lived experience of childhood or adolescent cancer, you can play a vital role in influencing how research is designed, funded and delivered.

To become a CoLab lived experience reviewer, complete the expression of interest form via the link in our bio and please share this post.

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R I V T U R N S 7 ✨
Happiest of birthdays to my littlest babe.
You are the sweetest, cutest, grumpiest, funniest, stubbornest little/old soul.
I love watching you grow.
Proud of you always.
Love you 🫶🏼

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Days like this ☀️

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“We raced him back to Ballarat (hospital). He was close to cardiac arrest...”

🎙️ In the latest episode of our Talking Blood Cancer podcast, we hear from Candice Forward, mum of three, whose youngest son, River, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

“All in a matter of a few hours, we went from thinking our son had gastro to being told our son is critical and has cancer. It was horrific.”

Candice shares the early signs of River’s illness, the intensive nine-month treatment period - during which River spent most of his time in hospital - and the impact it had on their family.

She also discusses River’s stem cell transplant with his older brother, Reid, as the donor, and how a psychologist helped her process trauma and communicate with her children.

#podcast #childhoodcancer #bloodcancer #stemcelltransplant #cancerpatient

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♥️♥️♥️

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A stem cell transplant is a second chance at life. For Candice’s youngest son, River, his life was saved thanks to his older brother, Reid.

🗣️ “At just two and a half years old, River was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in 2022.

“8 weeks into treatment, he wasn’t responding to treatment, and his only chance at survival was a stem cell transplant. Miraculously, Reid was a perfect match, and River received his brother’s stem cells.

“Today, River is in remission, started grade Prep, plays basketball and Auskick, and is healthy, happy, and thriving!”

The Leukaemia Foundation’s unique wraparound health services support Australian families through the emotional, physical and financial challenges of blood cancer.

We couldn’t do this life-changing work without you, our incredible community! 💙

#shavedhead #cancerpatient #bloodcancer

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New year, new life 💙

For many recipients, a stem cell transplant is a second chance at life.

For Candice’s youngest son, River, his life was saved thanks to his older brother, Reid.

🗣️ “In 2022, at just two and a half years old, River was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic #leukaemia (ALL).

“Eight weeks into treatment, he wasn’t responding to treatment, and his only chance at survival was a #stemcelltransplant. Miraculously, Reid was a perfect match, and River received his brother’s stem cells.

“Today, River is in #remission, started grade Prep, plays basketball and Auskick, and is healthy, happy, and thriving!”

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On the last day of 2025, we would like to look back not only on this year - but the decade that has passed. 10 years of Giving Togetherness to kids with cancer all in the name of Abbey Solo - our brave and strong Angel 💙

We are so incredibly grateful to all the legends that have become part of the A Team and @abbeysolofoundation family 💫

We have been blessed to have the friends and family who knew Abbey and have stayed on the journey - working hard to keep her dream alive.

Along this journey we have been privileged to meet families along the same path, kids who have survived and thrived, families who are still on the road and those whose children have grown their angel wings 🪽 Just as Abbey did. We hold each and every one of these Angels [and their families] close to our hearts, always.

Those who have joined us not having known Abbey personally, but just wanting to do their bit to help families facing their toughest fights - we are so grateful for your continued support. Particularly our oncology families who, despite going through the storm themselves, continue to give back.

10 years. Hundreds of families. Over $250,000 given to help ease the pain of childhood cancer.

Grateful beyond words. 🌈

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"There was a time when we weren't sure what River's future looked like, let alone thinking about him starting school. There were moments in the hospital when I dreamt of watching my children play outside, their feet in the grass, laughing."

Today, those moments are Candice's reality. River is at home, enjoying primary school and time with his friends and siblings.

But Candice hasn’t forgotten the parents sitting in those hospital chairs right now, carrying fears no one can see, holding onto their own hopes.

Now, through Children’s Cancer CoLab, Candice is helping shape research and care in ways that reflect what families truly need. Because hope shouldn’t come with a bill you can’t afford. And no family should have to face the hardest days of their lives without mental health care and practical support.

Families shouldn't just survive the system.
The system should support families.

Read River and Candice's full story at newslink in our bio or on our website - tinyurl.com/River-Candice-Story

@childrenscancerfoundationau @rchmelbourne @murdoch_childrens @vcccalliance

#CCCoLab #ChildrensCancerCoLab #CollaborativeResearch #MedicalResearch #CancerResearch #ChildhoodCancer #ChildrensCancer #ChildrensCancerAwareness #PaediatricOncology #CancerSurvivor #Leukaemia

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