“Ten days before Christmas last year Nate was diagnosed with B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,” said mother of three, Rachel Leembruggen.
The eldest of three boys, Nate was considered a healthy four-year-old boy at the time.
But in November 2020, Rachel began to have a frequent thought…
“I can only describe it as an inner pressure or a feeling that said, ‘get a blood test for Nate and get Leukemia ruled out,” said Rachel.
Believing it to be a “ludicrous” idea at the time, Rachel noticed the colour of Nate’s skin “seemed a little off.”
“I mentioned his skin colour to our General Practitioner on November 20, but he said it looked normal to him, although he did note it in his records…
“And said Nate was most likely still just recovering from an ear infection two weeks prior.”
Rachel accepted that Nate was okay and didn’t request a blood test for Nate at the time.
“He was super normal aside from a very slight skin colour change, but no one else seemed to be able to notice.
“And the whole leukaemia thought seemed absurd.”
Two weeks later, Rachel’s sense of urgency returned.
“Nate complained of sore legs and back. We took him to the doctors who referred him to Ipswich Hospital Emergency.”
Nate was discharged three hours later after the Emergency department had done a urine and blood sugar test.
But no blood test…
“They said the test results were normal and he wasn’t complaining of pain anymore and that he seemed completely fine,” Rachel said.
“When he arrived home with my husband Josh, I asked what his blood test results were…
“I was so cross to hear they hadn’t done a blood test and it had been weeks of this very specific left-field thought.
“So, a few days later I took him to my GP.”
His blood was tested the following day.
“When the pathologist called me at 8 pm that night, I wasn’t surprised.”
At the time, Nates neutrophil levels were alarmingly low and he was sent to the emergency department at Children’s Hospital Emergency straight away.
“As soon as I hung up the phone, I told Josh what I’d been feeling for those last three weeks.
“It seemed crazy. Ludicrous. Unbelievable. But here we are.”
Nate was in the hospital for two weeks until Christmas Eve.
He will continue to receive chemotherapy until February 2023.
Nate’s middle name is Brave.
“Obviously when we named him, we didn't realise he would be facing a childhood cancer diagnosis but now, of course, we think it's perfectly suited for him.
“He has done an incredible job undergoing an intense nine months of chemotherapy.”
In March, Nate’s oncologist gave him the approval to attend kindergarten.
“His previous enrolment wasn't suitable, so I called around at a few locations but not many places had availability let alone the willingness to care for a young child, battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.”
That is until she stumbled upon Saint Peters Lutheran Kindergarten at Springfield.
“Within a week they had written a medical management plan for him, and he was attending his first day at kindy.
“He has a lot of critical medical needs and requires a lot of monitoring and program adaptations depending on his chemotherapy cycle, but they have been so supportive and championed him all the way.”
Blood cancer leukaemia and lymphoma remain the most diagnosed childhood cancer for newborns to 14-year old’s, nationwide.
Each year in October, The Leukaemia Foundation hold ‘Light the Night,’ a virtual lantern lighting ceremony.
To ensure he can celebrate with his Kindergarten friends, centre director, Dali Jovanovic, approached Rachel and suggested pivoting the event too, "Shine a Light" on his behalf for the Leukaemia Foundation.
Saint Peters Lutheran Kindergarten will be holding their ‘Shine the Light,’ event on Thursday, October 14.
The kindergartens’ goal was to raise $1,000, which they have exceeded.
“We are so proud of Nate,” said Rachel.
Donations can be made online at Nates' light the night fundraiser page.