November 19, 2014
I Found My Spine


Dear Dr Laura, 

I wanted to finally give you a HUGE THANK YOU. Thank you for making me the mum I am today. My husband contacted you a while ago and explained our story. You were very kind to give me a gift of a keychain with a spine on it. 

My 15-year-old son was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer. After my son and I researched the cancer and all its available treatments, my son decided on a treatment the doctors did not want to do. They wanted to treat him as a statistic not as himself. The photo below is when we were told by the doctors they refused to treat him, that he was about to die and they were moving him to palliative care. But it was okay, I had your spine. I fought the doctors and the hospital.  

Eventually my son went to court and sat before a judge to fight for his right to choose his own treatment. He lost, BUT because of his spine the doctors eventually agreed to treat him as he wished. (In Australia a child under the age of 18 does not have the right to choose their treatment.) The inset photo is my son 3 years later on a trip of a lifetime with his dad 1/2 way around Australia for a 6 week camping trip. He is now 1 year in remission. Most of this I owe to you. You gave me my spine....but you know what? I found my spine, MY SON HAD IT ALL ALONG!! I am so proud of my boy, my young man.  He is almost 19 now - that boy they gave up for dead is the strongest man I know. 

THANK YOU. 

Forever grateful, 

Fiona







Posted by Staff at 10:57 AM