Community Rallying to Fund Life-Saving Treatment for Young Cancer Patient

Hugo Donaldson, an 11-year-old boy from Beachlands, Auckland, is in urgent need of financial support for a potentially life-saving medical treatment in the United States. After two years of battling Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer, Hugo’s family is working tirelessly to raise the necessary funds to access pioneering treatment at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.

As of Wednesday morning, the fundraising efforts have garnered a remarkable total of $335,979 from 5,414 donors through the Givealittle online page. The Donaldson family requires $500,000, with less than $165,000 remaining, to cover the expenses related to this vital treatment, which may offer Hugo a lifeline.

Hugo’s journey has been harrowing. After undergoing nine rounds of high-dose chemotherapy and 28 sessions of radiation, he was declared cancer-free in August 2022. Unfortunately, the cancer returned shortly after while he was still on maintenance therapy. With traditional treatment options now exhausted, his parents, Aaron and Samantha Donaldson, have turned their hopes towards an innovative CAR T-cell clinical trial.

Innovative Treatment Options

Hugo has been accepted into a CAR T-cell therapy trial at Texas Children’s Hospital, which utilizes the body’s immune system to combat cancer. While the treatment itself is provided free as part of the study, the associated costs for travel, accommodation, and hospital care must be covered upfront.

“We know of at least one child with the same type of cancer who received a similar version of this treatment and is now in long-term remission,” Aaron commented. “It gives us hope that Hugo might have that same chance.”

Dr. David Steffin, the associate chief of the Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplant Programme at Texas Children’s Hospital, expressed optimism regarding the trial’s potential. “We’re looking for a cure. This clinical trial is the only one of its kind in the world for treating solid tumours using CAR T-cell therapy,” he stated. He emphasized that this treatment targets specific markers on tumour cells while sparing healthy tissue, minimizing harmful side effects.

The CAR T-cell therapy process involves extracting Hugo’s blood in New Zealand, sending it to the United States, and modifying his T-cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells. The entire procedure takes approximately six weeks, during which Hugo and his family will travel to Houston for low-dose chemotherapy followed by the CAR T-cell infusion over a period of five weeks.

Community Support and Challenges

Despite having medical insurance, the Donaldsons’ policy does not cover overseas treatment. They have explored various avenues to fund Hugo’s care, including applying to withdraw funds from their KiwiSaver accounts, extending their mortgage, and selling personal assets. Yet, the family knows that without public support, they may not reach their fundraising goal in time.

Samantha shared the emotional difficulty of protecting Hugo from the seriousness of his condition. “He knows, but we don’t tell him everything. He’s just a little boy who wants to get better and play like other kids. We’re doing everything we can to keep his hope alive,” she said.

If the fundraising goal is not met or if Hugo’s condition prevents him from traveling, donors will be offered a refund or the option to redirect their contributions to other treatment-related expenses. Aaron acknowledged the challenging position they find themselves in, stating, “This is our last shot. We hate having to ask for help, but if there’s a chance this trial could save Hugo’s life, we have to try.”

Donations for Hugo Donaldson can be made through the Givealittle page at: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/the-donaldsons-continue-to-fight.

The Donaldson family continues to rely on the support of their community and beyond, as they navigate this critical time in Hugo’s life.