By Callum Ludwig
A Woori Yallock family has been left devastated by a shocking and sudden illness.
12-year-old Riley McGuane was diagnosed with T-Cell acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (T-ALL) on Thursday 21 July, having seemed fit and healthy just the weekend before.
Riley’s Mum Julie McGuane said Riley presented to her with a rash on his foot on Wednesday night.
“He’d had a stomach ache on Monday, and went to school Tuesday but complained of a headache all day, so he didn’t go to sports on Monday or Tuesday because he wasn’t 100 per cent,” she said.
“We did a blanch test, took his temperature, did a RAT test and checked to see if the rash was spreading. A nurse on call advised us to go to the emergency department and they did blood tests, Thursday morning is when the nightmare began and they told me what was happening.”
Julie, a kindergarten teacher, and her husband Chris, a builder, have missed work since the diagnosis as they try to be by Riley’s side. Riley also has two younger siblings, Jacob (7) and Abi (4).
Julie said Riley’s favourite thing in life is his sports.
“His life pretty much revolves around sport, and he pretty much enjoys what every other teenage boy does; hanging out with his mates and cousins and bike riding on the Warburton Trail,” she said.
“He’s actually in pretty good spirits at the moment because he’s in constant communication with his sporting clubs and teams. The boys at Sherbrooke facetime him so he can watch their games, and because we are at the Ronald McDonald House he can go out with some precautions, so has seen his football and basketball teams play. Getting back out there is the light at the end of the tunnel for him.”
Riley plays football with Woori Yallock Junior Football Club in the Under 13s, domestic basketball with Mount Lilydale Lakers and Representative basketball with Sherbrooke Suns. During the summer months, Riley also manages to squeeze in some cricket with Launching Place Cricket Club.
Ms McGuane said she wanted to thank all of the community for supporting Riley and their family.
“We’ve got Woori Yallock Primary School, the sporting clubs, Lilydale High School, everyone is showing massive support for Riley and our family, we are beyond grateful,” she said.
“This is the biggest fight of his life, but he’s got a lot of people that are in his corner to help us in this fight, the first couple of days he was obviously very emotional, but now he’s determined to get through this and back to doing what he loves.”
Anyone interested in donating to Riley’s GoFundMe page can do so here: https://gofund.me/176e70d5
