Nathan's Leukemia Journey

This is my brother Nathan Roy Phillips (Noofa) and here is his story.

 

In 2018 Nathan was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. Not long after diagnosis Nathan found out the Cancer had spread to his Lymph nodes and after the removal of his testicle he required Chemotherapy for the treatment of his Lymph nodes. After treatment Nathan and everyone around him went back to life as normal.

Grateful and hopeful that, that chapter was over.

 

Then on the 21.4.22 at the age of 38 Nathan was unfortunately diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) very early stages but a very aggressive type of Cancer. The odds of Nathan developing this type of Leukemia based on his age is 1 in 50,000 people. He was told without treatment he would only survive 4 months.

 

A week later Nathan started his treatment at Royal Hobart Hospital which involves intensive Chemotherapy as an inpatient for at least 4 weeks including direct spinal injections of Chemotherapy along with many other drugs.

He will then be assessed to continue treatment as an outpatient until he is in remission and able to travel to Melbourne for a bone marrow transplant which will require him and his wife Nicole to stay in Melbourne for 3-4 months.

 

On top of all this being thrown at them in less than a 2 week period Nathan then developed Pneumonia and contracted COVID19 due to his very low immune system and is required to isolate while still continuing Cancer treatment. Both Nathan and Nicole had to quit their jobs to devote their full time, energy and attention to the long journey ahead of them.

Nathan managed The Bottle-o at Claremont and Nicole worked as a receptionist at Qscan Radiology in North Hobart. They have both been advised to apply for a Job Seekers payment through Centrelink which will barely cover the cost of transportation, parking and other essentials for Nicole to see Nathan daily let alone mortgage, bills, pets and other everyday living expenses. They are also unable to access their super unless they're unemployed for 6 months at least.

 

Nathan and Nicole were 16 and 17 when they started dating after working together at McDonald's and haven't been out of work since, apart from when Nathan last had cancer.

Anyone who knows Nathan and Nicole knows just how loving, caring and generous the both of them are. There's nothing they wouldn't do for their friends and family and they have always been independent people who don't ask nor expect anything from anyone but are more often than not the first people to put their hand up if ANYONE around them need help whether it be financially, physically or mentally they will always help in whatever way they can.

 

Nathan is always friendly and kind to anyone he meets. He has a heart of gold and the most positive, calm attitude towards life. Regardless of what he's been through he will always greet anyone with a smile and makes everyone around him laugh.

Nathan is always the strength of his immediate family and now it's our turn to be his.

 

ANY donation will be appreciated so much by not only Nathan and Nicole but all of their family and friends. Every single dollar will help take the pressure off them and help them relax the best they can in this tough situation.

 

If you've taken the time to read this story I thank you from the bottom of my heart so please give it a share to get the story out there and help us support Nathan's long journey