We tried so hard for Max. Our first son Jack taught us how great it was to be a parent and we desperately wanted to give him a sibling. Although it’s no secret we wanted a girl, we ended up getting something better– a brother, a best friend for Jack – it was meant to be.
Max’s due date was actually my birthday, a sign that further strengthened our connection. I remember during labour feeling a message from him saying “we can do this” just moments before his quick entry into the world on the 15th August 2019.
With the second child we felt quietly confident that we knew what to do, but Max didn’t like that arrogance and was intentionally such a different baby, but he fitted in so perfectly to our lives. He would happily come along to all of Jack’s activities, sleeping through the chaos and feeding on the run. He loved travelling whether it be in the pram, car or plane – which was good because we were constantly on the move!
Although life was busy, Max and I still had peaceful moments to bond and for me to give him my full attention. His big smile and blue eyes captivated me.
Max was always happy, giggling and hitting milestones so quickly, crawling at 7 months and walking at 10 months, but where he really found his place was in the water. At such a young age he would confidently dive into the pool and splash in the waves, laughing if a wave ever pushed him over.
As a family of four we were planning on 2020 being our year of holidays, We had Europe and Hawaii booked, how wrong we were! We did however manage to squeeze in a little family holiday to Port Douglas in Jan before COVID really hit.
Due to the uncertainty, I sadly ended my maternity leave early and began working from home. This is when Max started daycare at Okinja and really started forming some beautiful bonds with other kids.
As our holiday plans were firmly shattered we decided to re-build our home. For those 6 months we lived on the canals in Mooloolaba and quickly established routines at a new beach. Max was known for wearing his budgy smugglers and strutting up to the coffee shop for a babycino. All of the old blokes loved him! It made most people laugh as I’d be encouraging Jack out of the pram to ride his scooter, but it is Max who would!
Max’s personality really started to come through, he had such confidence – talking to anyone, trying anything and this really rubbed off on Jack who before was much shyer.
Max enjoyed going along (and often joining in) to all of Jack’s activities (soccer, gymnastics, tennis, jiu jitsu, skateboarding) he really admired his big brother and wanted to be just like him.
Max turned 1 and not long after we were in our new house, celebrating Christmas, excited to spend time as a family together and start making more special memories.
When restrictions allowed we spent time with our family in Sydney, but mostly were out exploring our beautiful backyard (frequent visitors to the Zoo, Sealife, Double Island, Mt Coolum and ofcoarse Alexandra Headland Beach)
At 18 months Max had what seemed like a lingering flu, but I was concerned by some unusual bruises and constantly bleeding gums. In a week we had several visits to the doctors and dentist and eventually we were sent to SCUH emergency on a Friday afternoon for blood tests.
Although at this point I had only ever been to the hospital to give birth, I remember being calm thinking he’d now get the antibiotics he needed. I didn’t pack a bag and was casually wearing swimmers and a beach dress!
COVID precautions were extreme and due to Max presenting with a fever we were in an isolation room alone.
When the doctors came into the room with no gowns on I knew something was serious..
They told me the blood tests showed that Max had leukaemia and I just broke into a sob.
Max, my baby, was scared and I quickly wiped my tears to comfort him.
I was numb, in shock, desperate for it to be wrong but also wondering how on earth I was going to tell Andy when he was finally allowed in the room.
That night Max received his first blood transfusions, before we were transferred by ambulance down to QCH in Brisbane for what would be the start of a 3.5 year battle.
He was taken into theatre for his first lumbar puncture and bone marrow aspirate which confirmed the diagnosis of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).
Max started his first chemotherapy just a few days later on the Monday.
Max was initially cheery in hospital, unaware of the seriousness, running the corridors and playing with all his new toys, capturing the hearts of all the nurses and doctors.
Hospital restrictions allowed only one parent and no siblings to be in with Max for the first week, but soon we were out and able to be together in our new apartment in New Farm for Easter.
There’s no denying it, that month was tough.. Max had serious rage from the medications, he lost his hair, gained weight which affected his mobility, was not able to swim because of the PICC line and in general was not himself..
But we were focused on getting Max into remission, which he did!
Although we knew this was not the end of the road, we felt positive, especially as we could now travel home to the sunshine coast and he now had a port-a-cath so was able to swim again!
The next 6 months were relatively stable, he was still having weekly hospital visits and treatments, but he tolerated this with minimal side affects and was back doing the things he loved like; little kickers, riding his scooter, gymnastics and swimming. Jack and his friends never made Max feel different and his friendships continued to grow.
In November, Max finished frontline treatment and began Maintenance – which would be our new normal for the next 18 months. We celebrated by holidaying in Perth and travelling to Sydney to meet his baby cousin Bella before Christmas and ending the year altogether back in our home.
2022 was focused on fun and adventure. Max still had fortnightly hospital visits but for the best part we were able to enjoy ourselves. We went to New Zealand in June, where the boys had their first snow trip, went to Agnes Waters and later in the year went on a cruise to the pacific islands.
Max loved playing games on the trampoline, climbing & hiding in unusual places, singing songs at gymnastics, helping me bake or make juices and smiling for photos. However, we couldn’t be fully relaxed as Max was accident prone; we had additional hospital visits with things like split eyes and chipped teeth!
He disliked wearing normal clothes, preferring to be nude and in the water, or otherwise in one of his many superhero costumes!
In 2023 Max started at his new kindy FELC, he made some great new friends and loved being closer to Jack at the big school (often coming over to play with the school dog – Cooper and chasing the big boys around). He was excitedly learning how to ride his bike and to write.
maxxlivingfoundation.org 