Kylie was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma at 18 months of age. She had her right eye removed immediately. She also underwent many courses of Radiotherapy to save the remaining eye over the next 18 months. Eventually when she turned 3 the second eye was removed. She then underwent 12 months of intensive chemotherapy.

Kylie's Mum says she does not remember very much about this time. One day when she had to go back to Princess Margret Hospital for another course of chemo she said to me "Mum, How can the chemo make me better when all it does is make me sick"?
She was diagnosed with Osteogenic
Sarcoma of the right upper leg when she was 9 years of age. It was her choice to have the amputation because she could not bear the thought of constant hospital visits to lengthen her leg as she grew.

Kylie then underwent another 9 months intensive chemotherapy. During this time she needed a Kangaroo Pump and we used this to feed her as she slept. She was not able to eat without vomiting constantly. Kylie does not dwell on her time in hopital. She is too busy enjoying life. She does not regard her blindness as a diability but finds being an above knee amputee frustrating. Her artificial leg is bulky, slow and she is always having trouble with it fitting correctly. She finds elbow crutches much easier to amblate on. She is very positive in all she does and wants to be treated like everyone else.

Hi my name is Peter Ellis, but you can call me Pellis, that's the nickname my friends gave me. My friends are just a part of what has made my life so great to this point.

See, when I was 12 I had an accident, I hurt my back while surfing down south during the school holidays, that led me to discovering I had Leukaemia. After my diagnosis I cried for 3 days but I always tried to stay positive, as I learned and still believe there are always people a lot worse off.

I overcame these difficulties with the love and support of my family, the 3B staff, physios, speech therapists and my friends. I am now almost 20 and lead a life full of fun, mischief and GOOD TIMES, which I believe will continue for many, many years. I hope the staff of 3B know the huge part they play in the lives of young people battling with cancer as I believe they are a big part of why I'm here.
THANK YOU 3B, Love Pete.