Lucca
Lucca was diagnosed with an extremely rare and highly aggressive cancer called Epethelioid Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Sarcoma when she was just 16 months old.
At the time here were only nine other cases reported worldwide. Traditional chemotherapy had not proved effective in treating these cases and the outlook for Lucca looked bleak.
However, after life-saving surgery which removed 95% of Lucca’s tumour and a month stay in Starship hospital, Lucca's family were introduced to Dr. Andy Wood, a world-leading research oncologist that would save her life. Dr. Wood leads The Precision Paediatric Cancer Project PPCP, which aims to advance the standard of care in New Zealand by finding highly targeted treatment options for children with cancer – for whom standard treatments have failed.
Lucca was given a new groundbreaking treatment that targeted the remaining parts of her tumour and kept the highly aggressive cancer at bay. After three more years of treatment, surgeries and uncertainties, Lucca continued to beat the odds and began to thrive.
Lucca is now grown up and a happy girl that loves learning, playing with her friends, dancing, netball, her little brother Harrison and is learning to surf.
Other special ambassadors
-
PaigePaige was born on December 6, 2021, entering the world prematurely at just 23 weeks and 4 days gestation, and weighing a tiny 525 grams
-
LuccaLucca was diagnosed with an extremely rare and highly aggressive cancer called Epethelioid Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Sarcoma when she was just 16 months old.
-
SophieA urine test showed glucose, and a subsequent finger prick blood test showed elevated blood glucose.
-
RichieHe had a persistent cough, had lost weight and become so lethargic he was short of breath even when lying flat on a bed.
-
MelaMela is diagnosed with an incredibly rare condition called Moebius syndrome
-
KaseKase lives with cystic fibrosis, a condition is typically detected at birth, but Kase was diagnosed at 8.
-
JeremyBorn at 29 weeks and 5 days, Jeremy is one of the approximately 700 babies born preterm each year.
-
JaideJaide lives with chronic asthma and type-1 diabetes.
-
JacksonJackson had a tumour the size of a tennis ball attached to his optic nerve.
-
HunterHunter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after his family noticed he was always thirsty and that his moods had changed.
-
FinnFinn was diagnosed with hypoplastic right heart, when his mother was 20 weeks pregnant.
-
FinlayFinlay was diagnosed with type -1 diabetes at three-years-old.
-
IsabellaBella was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at her Mothers 27-week anatomy scan
-
EvaEva was born with only half a diaphragm after suffering a diaphragmatic hernia during fetal development.
-
CorinCorin lives with a very rare genetic heart condition
-
ChloeOur gorgeous little ambassador Chloe has suffered respiratory issues since she was an infant.
-
BrookeAt six years old, Brooke was diagnosed with gelastic seizures.
-
BraydenIn 2009, Brayden was cooking noodles when his t-shirt caught fire from the stove element. He received burns to 45 percent of his body.
-
BenBenjamin was diagnosed with Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele and Hydrocephalus at his Mum Catherine’s 20-week antenatal anatomy scan.
-
Amelia & GraceTwins Grace and Amelia were born prematurely at 27 weeks. They have extreme chronic lung disease and Grace had her first open heart bypass surgery at 8 weeks of age.
-
AddisonAddison was diagnosed with a staph infection, which caused damage to her heart.
-
Matt JohnsonMeet Matt Johnson, a former midfielder for the Blues rugby team. Matt had rheumatic fever when he was 13 and has been experiencing severe heart problems ever since.
