When James mentioned to his mum during story time that his vision in one eye looked blurry, it didn’t seem like much at first. He had a cold. It was winter. His mum, Naomi, who works is an occupational therapist, thought it could be connected. Still, something didn’t feel quite right.

A few days later, she took him to their local emergency department in Geelong. “I honestly thought it would be nothing,” she says. “I was messaging work, saying they were sending him for scans, with an eye roll emoji.”

But the scans told a different story. Doctors had found a mass behind his left eye.

Naomi and Joe were instructed to take James to The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) first thing the next morning. The uncertainty hung heavily. “Cancer was one of the possibilities,” Naomi says. “But there were other options too, we just didn’t know.”

The following week moved slowly. Tests, scans and procedures filled the days. Then came a team meeting with all the doctors.

“As soon as I saw that meeting in the calendar, I knew it wasn’t a good sign,” she says.

James was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of solid tumour. It was wrapped around his optic nerve, and it couldn’t be removed with surgery.

“It was a lot,” his mum says. “We found out about the tumour, the vision loss in his left eye, and even possible long-term effects all at once. It was very full-on.”

But there was also hope. The cancer was treatable.

Treatment began straight away, six months of intensive therapy. Every three weeks, James returned to the RCH for powerful chemotherapy.

Each cycle followed a pattern, one week of treatment, one week feeling unwell, one week where his immune system was very weak, and then it would begin again.

The treatment was tough, especially early on. James developed a strong fear of needles.

“There were times he wouldn’t get out of the car,” his mum says. “He’d hold onto the pillars in the carpark, or anything he could.”

With support from staff, they found ways to help. Sedation during procedures made things easier, and a tough situation became a routine. And time with his dad during admissions became something special.

“James, on occasion, has made comments that he misses coming here. His dad made it fun. They’d play games together, and there was no bedtime while in hospital.”

James also found joy in experiences outside treatment, from camps to running through the banner with the Essendon Bombers before a match.

“At one point, James said, ‘This is the best year I’ve had so far,” and he listed experiences and opportunities he’d had with the various cancer charities. They redefined his cancer journey experience,” his Mum recalls.

A few months into treatment, James had a scan to check if all that medicine, and the pain and discomfort that came along with it, was working.

The oncologists had great news: the tumour had shrunk significantly. “It was that moment that I knew we were going to get a good outcome; it was such a relief.”

Today, James is back at school, playing sport and keeping up with his friends. He still returns to the RCH for regular scans and follow-up appointments, but life feels more familiar again.

“He’s doing really well,” his mum says. “He’s bright and happy, and he’s got a wicked sense of humour.”