Little Oliver had a persistent cough that wouldn’t go away. His parents initially believed it was just a minor cold, but it turned out to be something far worse that would turn their world upside down
When two-year-old Oliver developed a “little cough,” his parents initially thought it was nothing serious.
According to the doctors, it was likely that he just needed some rest and some time away from daycare. However, two weeks later, the family was told that he had a tumor in his chest, along with leukemia.
Oliver’s father, John Norris, 38, from Somerville, Melbourne, dismissed the cough as nothing more than a “bit of a cold” because his son had no fever.
When he visited his GP on June 5, Covid and RSV were ruled out and Oliver was advised to just rest.
A week later, with no sign of improvement and with shortness of breath, they went back to the GP.
“He was given antibiotics and we were told he needed to rest and not go to daycare,” Mr Norris said.
But the father became concerned when the cough only got worse and his son became more and more listless.
Oliver Norris, 2, (pictured) developed a persistent cough in early June and within 11 days was discovered to have a tumour in his lungs and heart, and was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Oliver’s father, John Norris, said there were no symptoms of cancer before his toddler developed a cough and that he was ‘healthy’ (pictured Oliver Norris)
“He just didn’t seem to be getting better. I had a feeling something wasn’t right. I just wanted a second opinion,” he said.
John and his 34-year-old wife Melissa followed their instincts and took Oliver to another GP on June 14, who told him to take the child to the hospital if his health deteriorated any further.
The next night Oliver didn’t look too well and at 5am he had difficulty breathing.
He was rushed to Frankston Hospital, where an X-ray revealed the toddler had a growth on his heart and lungs. He was transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne for a more advanced scan and a clearer diagnosis.
“We were then told he had a tumor on his heart and lungs, which was why he couldn’t breathe,” Mr Norris said.
He was also diagnosed with leukemia.
The father said the hardest part was hearing such bad news within a few hours.
The two-year-old deteriorated a day after a second appointment with the GP, who ruled out viruses or bacteria. Oliver (pictured) had difficulty breathing and his parents rushed him to hospital
The little ‘cheeky’ and ‘bubbly’ boy (pictured undergoing treatment) now has to receive steroids twice a day and chemotherapy twice a week, but the family have been told he will need chemotherapy for the next two and a half years
“We tried not to think of the worst,” he said.
“We didn’t want to ask questions because we didn’t want to know the answers.
‘All those terms and all those different doctors – a different doctor came every half hour – and your child had difficulty breathing and was a little bit unconscious.
“It was just hard.”
Mr Norris said Oliver, the little brother of Mia, 9, and Charlie, 4, is known for his big smile, that he is “always laughing” and “happy”.
“He likes dinosaurs, playing with cars and making animal noises. He’s a little bit cheeky,” he said.
According to Mr Norris, there were no warning signs or symptoms before Oliver started coughing in early June.
The toddler’s father said he is ‘proud’ of his son for sitting still during chemotherapy and carrying a backpack containing antibiotics to fight a virus he has since contracted (pictured Oliver Norris)
Oliver (pictured) loves dinosaurs and making animal noises. He is also known for his big smile.
“We weren’t lethargic before he started coughing – he was healthy,” he said.
The father wanted to make it clear that he does not blame GPs, as the condition is rare and ‘they cannot x-ray every child who comes in with a cough’.
Oliver now has to take steroids twice a day and undergo chemotherapy twice a week.
The family has been told the two-year-old will need chemotherapy for the next two and a half years.
“He just started losing his hair. My wife had a breakdown, she was crying in front of the kids,” he said.
“When you start seeing the signs, you know it’s real. It’s confronting.
‘The steroids make him angry and he lashes out – but that’s normal when you’re on steroids.
“But he still has that smile. The hospital staff loves him – they all say they love his smile.
“It’s hard for a two-year-old to sit still during chemo, but he does it.”
The father said that Oliver contracted an infection in the hospital, which his body is having trouble dealing with because of the leukemia.
“He was hot and shaking. It’s a virus that he can’t fight himself, so he has to wear a backpack and give him antibiotics 24/7 for 14 days,” he said.
Oliver (pictured) has a long treatment road ahead of him and his father said doctors have told him the first six months of treatment will be intense.
“It’s hard to tell a two-year-old not to take it off, but he keeps it on, he’s doing so well and I’m very proud of him.”
Hospital staff told the couple that Oliver’s treatment would be intensive.
“They said the first six months are intense and one of us has to take at least six months off work,” Mr Norris said.
“It depends on whether he scores his goals.”
His wife Melissa, who works part-time at a Coles Express petrol station, has had to put her job and her part-time job on hold.
A GoFundMe has been started for the family after Oliver’s mother Melissa had to quit her job to care for her son, and be there for the family’s other two children (pictured is Oliver)
‘Melissa is exhausted, she’s on her last breath. She’s amazing, but it’s been tough, especially with our other two children to look after.
“The energy bill has gone up, food has become more expensive. You’re home more, so you consume more,” he said.
‘And then, on top of the bills, we also have to pay for parking at the hospital and petrol.’
a GoFundMe was established to help the family pay for lost wages, bills and transportation costs.