Four-year-old girl recovers from rare aggressive leukaemia

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 19:32 · Archive

Four-year-old Maxi Catania has recovered from Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia after nine months of intensive treatment. Her mother Jana initially mistook the symptoms—a high temperature followed by unexplained bruises spreading across her legs and bleeding under the skin on her neck—for ordinary childhood ailments. However, when the bruising covered her entire legs within 48 hours, the family rushed to Perth Children's Hospital emergency department.

Maxi underwent an arduous treatment regimen that included chemotherapy with arsenic as one of the drugs. Her mother described the side effects as severe, causing intense headaches, vomiting and temperature regulation problems. During treatment, Maxi became so unwell on some days that the family had to pull over while driving to the clinic.

The case highlights the impact of paediatric cancer treatment on patients and families, with the oncology ward becoming a second home for the Catania family during the nine-month ordeal.

How it is being reported

• Young Maxi Catania’s win against rare, aggressive leukemia proves importance of medical research for WA kidsA four-year-old girl has already lived two lives, ‘a life before and a life after’ according to her mother who had to watch her fight to be alive everyday for nine months, with nothing but hope to hold onto.The West Australian · 13 Oct, 19:00
• Young Maxi Catania’s win against rare, aggressive leukemia proves importance of medical research for WA kidsA four-year-old girl has already lived two lives, ‘a life before and a life after’ according to her mother who had to watch her fight to be alive everyday for nine months, with nothing but hope to hold onto.Perth Now · 13 Oct, 19:00

In this story: Maxi Catania · Jana Catania · Perth Children's Hospital · Western Australia

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