Duncraig teacher moved to shave by daughter’s cancer journey

HIS daughter’s recovery from leukaemia is the driving force behind a Duncraig teacher’s involvement in the World’s Greatest Shave this term.

Daniel Parker’s youngest daughter, Flo (8) was diagnosed with acute lymphobastic leukaemia in 2014 after falling on a rock in Dwellingup.

“She was quite sore for some time and over the next few days it became progressively worse for her,” he said.

“We took her to Princess Margaret Hospital and the first diagnosis was that she had irritable hip syndrome but a couple of days later she was crawling rather than walking, which made us seek a further opinion.

“After a lot of consultation and with more rigorous testing, shadowing was seen on scans in her lower leg bones and blood tests then confirmed that she had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.”

The St Stephen’s Duncraig primary sports teacher said a call from his wife Marny one evening confirmed every parent’s worst nightmare.

“She could barely speak to me and then she said she was handing me over to the oncologist,” he said.

“As soon as she said that word, I knew it was obviously an issue with cancer.”

The weeks that followed included administering a trial drug and a heavy treatment protocol that worked to attack and kill a majority of the immune cells and cancerous blood cells.

Mr Parker said Flo was considered in remission after about six weeks but treatment continued for two years and she went through blood tests and physical examinations for another five years.

Flo now loves spending time drawing, with her current specialty dragons, and her favourite sport is floorball.

The Parker family, including their two older children, Samuel (12) and Lucy (10), are waiting patiently for May 6 next year when, if all results continue to show negative detection of cancerous cells, Flo would be given the all clear.

“Many family support avenues that we utilised were funded by the Leukaemia Foundation,” Mr Parker said.

“For us, the money poured into research by the Leukaemia Foundation was undoubtedly the thing that helped Flo the most – without the research, it is unlikely that Flo would have survived.”

This has led to him being a big driver behind St Stephen’s School’s involvement with the foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave fundraiser, with their event planned for April 9.

“Last year was a great success as far as money raised and numbers of students involved – there were seven primary students and myself that shaved our heads on the day,” Mr Parker said.

This year, he hoped to see more people get involved, be it colouring their hair, wearing a wig or shaving their heads, all in aid of awareness.

“I am fully aware that there are many worthwhile causes to support, particularly in light of the fires and droughts but I would just like to see people happily getting involved in activities that are in consideration of others,” he said.

“All struggles, successes, events and people shape your outlook in some way.

“I think Flo’s story becomes a reference point in our lives to look back on and give thanks to God that she was healed and that we have been given more time with her.”

Visit leukaemiafoundation.org.au to donate.

Doctor to shave hair for Leukaemia Foundation