Living Life to the Max

Max Puklowski was diagnosed with liver cancer just before his 1st birthday. Although he received chemotherapy through Christchurch hospital to shrink the tumour, the technology required to give him a liver transplant was unavailable at that time so he was sent to Brisbane.

In Brisbane Max waited for 6 months for a liver donor …but in the end he didn’t need it, as fortunately surgery performed to remove the cancer was successful and his liver regenerated/grew back within 12 weeks.

Max will soon turn 6yrs old. His mother Christina says he is “full of life”, a lovely person who is adored by all, including his two brothers, Jake 9yrs and Zac 18 months. Max now plays rugby for Nelson’s Stoke White under 6 yrs rugby team and is right into motorbikes and rock-climbing.

The Child Cancer Foundation assisted Max and his family along the way, contacting the family upon diagnosis and providing them with an introduction kit containing helpful resources and information and also useful provisions such as toiletries for the hospital and toys and books to entertain the kids.

“The Child Cancer Foundation phoned us regularly and helped out at every stage in a lot of small but meaningful ways,’ says Christina. “ We were provided with meal vouchers, which were a great buffer and movie tickets for a much-needed break from the hospital scene. Max received assistance at kindergarten due to the Foundation and all of our children have been able to take part in organised holiday activities, lunches, and Christmas celebrations. It has been wonderful to have this sort of network and support.”

A Child Cancer Foundation scholarship has also enabled Max to receive extra tuition at school for writing and also for his speech, which was affected by treatment.

Christina attends a monthly coffee group with other mothers, where they get together with members of the Child Cancer Foundation to learn about upcoming events and information and share a friendly chat with each other about their kids and lives.