A Sydney family received a shock diagnosis following a trip to New Zealand – after their young daughter had cold symptoms which did not go away.
Parents Adrian and Emily returned to Australia in January 2025 when they first noticed symptoms which led to their 10-month-old, Fio, to receive a stage four cancer diagnosis.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Emily said the persistent cold symptoms “weren’t very alarming”, but days later that changed.
During a bath one evening, Emily noticed a lump on her daughter’s neck, which turned out to be an enlarged lymph node.
At first, doctors dismissed this as normal, and said it was probably due to her cold.
However, the lump then grew larger, and Fio’s condition began to worsen.
“She was struggling to breathe, and then she vomited up blood. She was breathing a bit better after that, but we were still so worried.”
Childhood cancer
Scans then revealed what was thought to be the swollen lymph node was a tumour – and a rare stage four form of childhood cancer known as neuroblastoma.
When it was found, the tumour had already taken over the right of Fio’s chest cavity. This partly collapsed her lung – and extended into her spinal cord. Her windpipe was also pushed aside.
“I think the whole hospital sort of sprang into motion.”
The pressure on Fio’s spinal cord then caused her to permanently lose movement and feeling from the rib cage down.
She was rushed into emergency surgery – where she received a biopsy and chemotherapy.
At one point, Emily said Fio’s heart stopped beating, before being resuscitated after 90 seconds.
She was then put in intensive care where she stayed for months.
It wasn’t until May 2025 that Fio was declared cancer-free, the family said.
Fears remain
However, Emily said other fears remained.
“It's not easy thinking about when she eventually goes to school and wonders why her friends can do things she cannot.
“The cancer battle itself wasn't the big battle for us. It's more about what the rest of her life looks like.”
However, Emily said there are now “small wins every day” despite the uncertainty over their daughter.
“Sometimes it's just holding onto those things.”
Emily and Adrian shared their story in support of Run2Cure Neuroblastoma, which took place in Sydney in March. Runs also take place in Brisbane on August 16 and in Melbourne on November 15. The 2027 Sydney event is on April 4.
People can register to take part in the event or donate at rune2cure.org.au
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