Perth mother shares story of son's death from leukaemia at Telethon

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 10:32 · Archive

Pamela Campbell spoke at a Telethon breakfast event about her son Callum, who died of acute myeloid leukaemia in June 2021.

Pamela Campbell spoke at Saturday's Telethon 2026 breakfast event to share the story of her son Callum, who died of acute myeloid leukaemia in June 2021. Callum was diagnosed with a rare strain of the disease at age two in 2019. He spent 350 nights in hospital, mostly in isolation, undergoing numerous procedures, blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

After two and a half years of treatment marked by periods of remission and two relapses, Callum's body could no longer fight the disease. Ms Campbell described the silence that followed packing up his room at Perth Children's Hospital and the dual grief of losing her son and the medical team and support network that had become like family.

Ms Campbell read a poem she had written during late-night reflections that captured the reality of grief and hospital life. In it she addressed medical staff, saying: 'If I'm sad, be gentle. If I'm happy, laugh with me... To you, this might be another shift, another family, another room filled with beeping machines. For me, this is my whole world.' She urged those in the medical profession to remember children who had died: 'When my child is gone, please don't forget their name. Say it, remember it, honour it. Your care doesn't end with their last breath.'

How it is being reported

• Telethon 2026: Perth mother Pamela Campbell brings room to tears sharing grief of losing son to rare leukaemiaThe deeply moving, yet profoundly heartbreaking words of Perth mother Pamela Campbell at Saturday’s Telethon breakfast event brought a full room to tears and has set the unforgettable tone for Telethon 2026.Perth Now · 17 Oct, 10:18
• Telethon 2026: Perth mother Pamela Campbell brings room to tears sharing grief of losing son to rare leukaemiaThe deeply moving, yet profoundly heartbreaking words of Perth mother Pamela Campbell at Saturday’s Telethon breakfast event brought a full room to tears and has set the unforgettable tone for Telethon 2026.The West Australian · 17 Oct, 10:18

In this story: Pamela Campbell · Callum Campbell · Perth Children's Hospital · Telethon 2026 · Perth

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