In honour of the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave this month, 18-year-old Summer Robertson shares her inspiring journey of battling blood cancer, giving Teen Breathe an insight into the importance of compassion, hope, and support.
On November 20, 2021, I was working a regular shift at Boost Juice and felt really tired. My heart was racing, and my Apple watch kept telling me to ‘Take a moment to breathe’. I went on my break and rang my mum to tell her about it.
Mum picked me up immediately and took me to the Emergency Department at the nearby hospital. I had my very first blood test and 20 minutes later, at just 15 years old, about to undertake my Year 10 exams, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
I was given blood transfusions and taken to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, where I met my oncologist and started treatment. I had never been to hospital before and never had any kind of surgery, so this was all new to me.
I remember one of the people in that surgery room commented, ‘Wow, look at that amazing hair!’, as I was carried from my bed to the operating table. It was a very hard moment for myself and my mum – I was about to lose all my hair soon after.
What followed was 16 months of intense chemotherapy and treatments – which weren’t always straightforward, and sometimes brought about other battles.
The worst was an infection which covered my lungs and squeezed my pulmonary artery. I needed emergency surgery, which halted my chemotherapy for a while. Thankfully, I pulled through, and the infection was eradicated.
I finally got back onto the protocol ALL treatment but developed further lung infections and pancreatitis, which was painful. With the help of my medical team, I got through this too, but my doctors put me on maintenance treatment early, as my body was struggling to recover.
I was tested for relapse twice during the first couple months of maintenance. It was very scary waiting for these results.
Whilst I was sick, I couldn’t go to school. I couldn’t work. And I couldn’t do drama and music – something I really missed. Before my diagnosis, I was doing really well with school, my job, and had also been in commercials, films, and a few TV and stage shows. It was hard to adapt to not being able to do what I loved.
Sometimes I got very upset, but I was always able to talk through it with my mum, who was a big support to me. We talked about all the things I was going to try to achieve, and, most importantly, what I had to look forward to after cancer.
My mum had gone through a blood cancer diagnosis too (lymphoma), and had a stem cell transplant a few years before, so she could relate to many of the things I was going through. I also made friends in the hospital, and it was good to speak to other kids going through a similar journey.
I returned to school for a small amount of Year 12. Despite the odds against me, I graduated! I also attended my formal; I was so happy to be with my friends and experience this. I then celebrated my 18th birthday with my family. It was wonderful.
In January, I was promoted at my job, and I have now signed up to a pre-university course, to hopefully gain my degree in education. I have always wanted to be a primary school teacher, and I really look forward to being a good role model for students.
At the hospital, there is a special bell that patients get to ring when they finish their treatment. I’ve been dreaming about ringing that bell since my first day of treatment. On April 12th this year, I will finally complete my treatment – I’ll be able to ring the bell, and hear its sweet sound.
I’ve been making bracelets for the children in the hospital to hand out on my last treatment day. I’ve made over 60 already, with inspirational words like ‘Strong’, ‘Brave’, ‘Happy’, ‘Smile’, ‘Hope’, ‘Faith’, and ‘Worthy’. I’ve made each one individual using different colours and added a little note from myself, so that they know they’re not alone on their journey.
I really hope it brings a moment of happiness and courage, in what can be a scary time for the patients and their families.
During my diagnosis, and my mum’s own journey, my family and I were supported by the Leukaemia Foundation. We stayed at their accommodation centre in Brisbane, which was close to the hospital where I was being treated. It really was our home away from home.
The Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave helps make a difference to the everyday Australians who are living with blood cancer, like me. I hope Teen Breathe readers will absorb the courage and hope from my story – and know that support and compassion are vital, especially for a journey like mine.
Words: Summer Robertson
To support the Leukaemia Foundation and the World’s Greatest Shave,
visit www.worldsgreatestshave.com
