By Bonny Burrows
A 14-year-old Harry Potter enthusiast battling spinal cord cancer is holding out hope he may attend America’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park once he beats the tumour.
A promise of a trip to the Florida theme park is helping Pakenham teenager Callum McLaughlin soldier through his traumatic cancer battle which has so far included five rounds of chemotherapy.
Callum’s illness came as a shock to the youngster and his family and friends, who described him as an “active, happy teenager”.
“He’s funny, kind, intelligent and incredibly cheeky,” older sister Sam White said.
She said Callum was a keen tennis player and a member of the army cadets, who “no matter what, thinks of others before himself”.
“He’s also the best son, brother and uncle that we could have asked for.”
But in February this year, Callum – a student of Beaconhills College- complained of a headache and shoulder pain, which was put down to an injury from playing tennis.
However, an MRI scan revealed a tumour on his spinal cord between his C1 and C5 vertebrae.
Sam said nobody was prepared for the results.
“To be honest, we didn’t think it was anything major. Some of us thought he was exaggerating to get out of school. If only,” Sam said.
As a result of the cancer, Callum has lost the use of his left arm and 80 per cent use of his right arm and left leg.
Due to its location, the tumour is inoperable, so Callum is undergoing a minimum 12 months of chemotherapy which may include radiotherapy down the track.
He is currently at the Monash Children’s Hospital in Clayton in the middle of a three-week stay involving treatment and rehabilitation.
“This illness has affected every part of Cal’s life. He hasn’t attended school since March, can’t socialise with his friends and can’t participate in tennis or army cadets,” Sam said.
She described the emotional toll the battle was taking on her brother as “heartbreaking”; however “he’s keeping really positive”.
“He absolutely loves Harry Potter. He’s got it (the trip) in the back of his mind … as something positive to focus on,” Sam said.
“And that’s what we really wanted, to give Sam something to look forward to once he’s better, whenever that may be.”
To assist her mother and stepdad with the expenses of caring for Callum, Sam has started a gofundme.com page.
“He needs his mum and dad. We are asking for support so that they can take time off work to assist him on a daily basis. With his lack of mobility, he needs a lot of assistance,” Sam said.
Despite the fight, Sam said her brother’s focus remained on others.
“His biggest priority is the happiness of others and making sure his family is OK. He is a selfless young man who is doing his best to remain positive,” Sam said.
“He doesn’t deserve this. Nobody does.”
The page can be found at: https://www.gofundme.com/calsbattleeithspinalcancer
