Eli's Story

My name is Troy and my wife Kate and I met Fiore, Keanna and baby Eli at Sydney children’s hospital Randwick in the ICU. We were fortunate enough to return home with our son. The Costa family still have a long journey and any help would be appreciated. The below details baby Eli’s story.

Following several weeks of medical visits for a wheeze, nine month old Eli was rushed to Canberra Hospital in the middle of the night on 16 July after his mom found him blue around the mouth and struggling to breathe. It was discovered that Eli’s lung was collapsed by a massive tumour in his chest which was pressing against his heart and spine and twisting his trachea. Eli was flown up to Sydney Children’s Hospital that evening for further investigation, but before dawn he was taken to children’s intensive care when he became critically unwell. Quickly deteriorating, his mum and dad were told that morning Eli was in life threatening condition.

Due to the sheer size and location of his tumour, Eli could not be placed under general anaesthetic or receive emergency surgery without risking catastrophic damage to his major organs and spinal tissue. Several other life saving interventions were started that day, including chemotherapy and a chest drain, as the team worked quickly to stabilise him. Miraculously, Eli began to stabilise within days.

Following a week in intensive care and several weeks in the children’s oncology ward, Eli was formally diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, an incredibly rare children’s cancer. He is Stage IV with intermediate risk as the cancer has spread from his neck to his pelvis.

While a grim and terrifying start to his cancer journey, Eli’s parents remain filled with hope as Eli continues to respond to treatment six weeks on. Although he is severely immunocompromised and has already experienced a number of secondary issues that have admitted him back into hospital, Eli remains determined to learn and grow as the sweet now ten month old he is. On the darkest of days when hearts break and the long journey ahead seems impossible, Eli shares his joyful and kind soul with everyone around him, bringing a smile and laughter to everyone around him (especially mum and dad).

Eli and his parents must remain in Sydney for 6+ months to continue treatment, with possible surgery to remove any remaining cancer. Due to limited availability in nearby charitable accommodation, they are renting an apartment near the hospital while maintaining their mortgage on their family home in Canberra. Living away from their support system and isolating to protect Eli has many extra costs that have quickly become challenging for his parents maintain.

Many have expressed their wish to help, and financial support is the biggest aid not only immediately but in the long term as Eli’s cancer fight is a marathon, not a sprint.

Donations to Eli’s Cancer Fight Fund will help with:

Medical supplies for Eli to receive certain pharmaceutical supports in the home

Healthy and nutritious groceries for Eli and his family to keep them well

Books, musical instruments and developmental toys for Eli to keep his brain growing and nourish his love of music and reading while isolating from others both at home and in hospital

Rent, mortgage, utilities and other general costs of living while renting in Sydney and maintaining the family home in Canberra

Future income lost to provide full time care to Eli upon return to Canberra as he no longer can attend daycare as planned

Future costs for medical appointments and scans in Sydney, including travel, accommodation and food

Future specialist and allied health costs such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietician etc. to ensure Eli continues to grow and develop into a strong, healthy and happy little boy despite his cancer.

Eli’s parents are grateful for all the love and support they have already received, and continue to ask to keep Eli in your thoughts or prayers as he tackles each and every day of his cancer journey.