Taylah was a vibrant, active teenager.
Then… at just 14 years old, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia – an aggressive cancer.
“I was taken straight to hospital and began chemotherapy immediately – I was in shock and so afraid. I remember pleading with my mum to find any way to spare me having to go through the cancer treatment and awful procedures, but there was no other way. And I was just 14 years old.” says Taylah.
A cancer diagnosis for a child is devastating. Having to endure the distressing treatments that follow make it even more unbearable.
Taylah went through two and half years of gruelling chemotherapy and underwent a multitude of steroid treatments. She had countless intramuscular injections, which took an enormous toll on her physical and mental health. A journey that demanded extraordinary strength and resilience.
At 17, Taylah completed treatment and was given the all clear. She completed year 12 and went on to study Biomedical Science.
She was living life to the fullest… but that was short lived.
At 19, Taylah found a lump in her breast and tests confirmed it was the leukaemia again… Taylah had relapsed and went straight back into treatment.
Previously, Taylah had been treated in Monash Children’s Hospital. But at 19, when Taylah was faced with her heartbreaking relapse, she would be treated as an adult, which was vastly different to the cancer care experienced in her teenage years.
One of the most difficult moments she recalls was having to endure a lumbar puncture, having a needle inserted into her spine.
For children, a procedure like this would be done under general anaesthetic. But now, under adult care, Taylah had to undergo the procedure awake, with the risks of using anaesthetic considered too high.
“I had to start doing the procedures awake – that was awful. They gave me medications to make me drowsy, but I still knew what was going on”.
“One of the amazing Monash Health nurses suggested I use a meditation app which helped. Something I still use today if I’m really anxious.”
After Taylah’s relapse, her treatment continued for just over a year, and by the age of 21, she was in remission.
Despite being in remission, leukemia requires continuous monitoring and treatment for the years to follow. This meant Taylah still had a long journey of enduring treatments and long-term side effects ahead.
Now 25 years old, Taylah remains cancer-free and is pursuing her career in science and medicine.
Looking back on her journey, Taylah says “If I had something where my mind could escape the treatments – like virtual reality – where you are not just looking at the hospital room or seeing the needles and the things going into your body, it would have been a much easier experience.”
With your support this Festive Season, we can help make that a reality
Virtual reality tools have already proven effective for paediatric patients – offering safe, non-invasive cognitive distraction that reduces anxiety, eases distress and enhances overall care experience.
With your support, we can help give 15 – 25-year-old cancer patients, like Taylah, access to the same proven pain and anxiety management tools used in paediatric care at Monash Health. Funds will go toward purchasing, implementing, and maintaining Smileyscopes – virtual reality headsets with engaging content for this age group, like guided meditations, and Buzzy Bees – vibrating medical devices to help relieve the perception of pain.
“‘Meditation and visualisation really helped me. Imagine how much more impactful this would be through virtual reality,” says Taylah.
From hospital rooms, to whole new worlds. Your gift today can help transport 15 – 25 year olds undergoing cancer therapy from a world of distress to a world of calm.
You can make your much needed donation online today or call the Monash Health Foundation on (03) 9594 2700.
Whatever your gift, you can be certain that it will help change young lives!
