When the daughter of renowned Australian reality TV personalities showed an early sign of a rare cancer in the form of a persistent bruise, it served as a harrowing reminder of the hidden dangers that lurk behind common symptoms.
Carly Saunders and Tresne Middleton, famed for their appearance on the competitive cooking program My Kitchen Rules, became household names in Australia. However, it was their candid depiction of their eight-year IVF journey on social media that truly captured the hearts of their followers.
On June 2, 2021, they welcomed a daughter, Poppy Grace, into their lives. Tragically, Poppy was diagnosed with infantile acute lymphoblastic leukemia shortly after her birth, a rare disease defined by Mayo Clinic as “cancer of the blood and bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made.”
Sadly, Poppy lost her fight against this life-threatening illness, passing away in February, a few months shy of her second birthday.
Now, her heartbroken parents are opening up about the early symptoms of this rare disease.
“We noticed her belly was starting to grow and she would have massive vomits when she was eating,” Middleton revealed to 7news, an Australian news outlet. But it was the persistent bruise on Poppy’s thigh that set the alarm bells ringing.
“Understanding the signs of leukemia like paleness, bruises, or excessive bleeding can potentially aid early diagnosis,” stated a medical professional.
Poppy’s bruise lingered for five weeks. “In retrospect, we question how we overlooked her paleness, but we were unaware because it happened gradually,” Saunders confessed.
Poppy was barely 11 weeks old when her leukemia was detected. She was our tiny miracle, Saunders recalled. “We had been trying for a baby since 2012,” she added, reflecting on the fear they felt during that time.
Despite their arduous journey to bring Poppy into the world, the reality of her diagnosis was hard to accept.
Poppy underwent a bone marrow transplant before her first birthday due to her condition. Unfortunately, her health declined rapidly thereafter, leading the doctors to break the grim news to her parents.
“Poppy came into her own during that time, her personality shone through, and we got to witness what a little star she was,” Middleton fondly remembered their time together after Poppy’s diagnosis.
Following Poppy’s passing on February 16 due to a sudden health crisis, her parents have noticed a surge in blood donations made in her memory.
“It’s amazing how much blood is required by cancer patients, particularly children. There’s currently a severe blood shortage,” they pointed out.
Their continued efforts to encourage blood donations and to educate parents about the early signs of leukemia, such as headaches, joint pain, fevers, and swollen lymph nodes, have helped save an estimated 4000 lives.
On social media, they highlighted Poppy’s symptoms: pale skin due to a low red blood cell count, large bouts of vomiting due to an enlarged spleen, and a persistent bruise due to low platelet count.
Through their heartrending loss and public outreach, Saunders and Middleton hope to create a lasting legacy for their cherished daughter, Poppy.