Lockdown makes treatment harder

• Published date: 04 November 2021
• Publication title: Guardian, The

There is only one specialist treatment centre for childhood cancer in the North Island — Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland. This means families like the Lees have to travel to Auckland so their children can receive life-saving treatment.

This can be hugely challenging for many families — emotionally, financially and socially. They have to live through the trauma of watching their child undergo treatment, often for weeks or months at a time, while being miles away from their support network.

For the first two years of Jaxon’s life, Keri and Jason had to travel with him to Auckland every month for laser therapy to freeze the tumours in his eyes and frequent MRI check-ups to ensure no tumours had spread to his brain.

He has recently moved to three-monthly trips to Auckland for check-ups and possibly more treatment, which will continue until he is about 6.

Regional border restrictions have made getting in and out of Auckland incredibly stressful for the Lee family.

“We have had to miss a couple of Jaxon’s appointments and have no idea when we’ll be able to get back to his regular...