At 3, Max was experiencing serious nosebleeds. A trip to hospital changed everything.

When three-year-old Max started experiencing nosebleeds, his mum Albina didn't think much about it. And who could blame her, considering how common nosebleeds can be among kids?

But unlike the norm, Max's nosebleeds didn't show any signs of slowing down. 

So Albina and her husband decided to take Max to their local GP in Sydney. 

"As a typical three-year-old boy he would often pick his nose and then the nosebleed would follow, so we didn't think much into it. But there were bits of blood clots coming out too and it raised questions for us," Albina explained to Mamamia.

"Initially, the GP said there wasn't anything of concern and to monitor the situation. But a few weeks later it became worse. He was tired, and red dot marks had begun to appear on his wrist. Then on December 15 in 2018, Max sneezed and blood began to gush out of his nose. My husband typed into Google all of the symptoms and the first thing that came up was leukaemia."

Albina's husband decided not to share this information with his wife. He instead suggested they quickly go to the emergency ward and get some tests for peace of mind. 

And thank goodness they did. 

"We dropped off our daughter, a few years older than Max, at the babysitter and headed to the emergency ward. We got some blood tests, further checks, and once the paediatricians put the blood under the microscope, they told us it was suspected to be leukaemia."

Albina struggled to believe what she'd just been told. 

"I was in firm denial. It's funny how your mind works to protect itself. I kept holding out hope that they were wrong, thinking it was just a virus. The oncologist recognised what I was going through and my avoidance of the situation. He sat me down and said the next step was a lumbar puncture to take bone marrow from Max's spine, which is a quite painful thing to do. He said to me: 'You need to know that in doing this procedure we know he has leukaemia. It's just about confirming which type.' And that was when it all came crashing down and the tears came."

For the next 190 days, Max was at the Sydney Children's Hospital and underwent intense cancer treatment. 

Max in his hospital room during treatment, sleeping next to his older sister. Image: Supplied.

Throughout the whole ordeal, he took things in his stride. Albina says she's thankful for how young he was at the time, noting the "beauty of ignorance".

"He knew something was wrong considering we were in the hospital for so long, but I guess he didn't necessarily appreciate the severity of what it all meant. And neither did we as parents quite frankly in the early days," Albina reflected.

"Fortunately, the Sydney Children's Hospital is great at providing distractions for the kids themselves, with lots of play. Particularly at Christmas time, there was just a never-ending flow of gifts for the young patients - it was beautiful to see their faces light up."

Max's treatment lasted 13 long months; a combination of chemotherapy and steroids. The side effects of such intense treatment took their toll. 

"As a complication, Max's immune system was pretty much wiped out. He responded really well to the treatment, and thank goodness it worked for him, but chemotherapy has harsh side effects - nausea and mucositis (severe ulcerations in the mouth and digestive tract). He was on heavy pain medication too," Albina said.

Nearing the end of treatment, the Sydney Children's Hospital managed to get their hands on a new drug from overseas specifically for leukaemia - without the potential side effect of mucositis. And fortunately, it worked for Max and made his time in hospital a lot easier. 

Now Albina knows first-hand why funding for research and hospitals is so pivotal - because that new drug for Max gave him a far higher quality of life during treatment.

Fast forward to today and Max has been in remission for a number of years, after his 13-month treatment plan. It's five years post-diagnosis when leukaemia patients get confirmed as 'cancer-free', and in December this year, Max will hopefully get that all-clear declaration.

Max on the road to recovery. Image: Supplied.

It's a massive sigh of relief for the whole family, Albina said to Mamamia. 

"We are so, so thankful. And we're relatively fortunate because Max hasn't had any serious long-term side effects from it all. His muscles have deteriorated from the steroids used, and his fitness levels and athletic ability are non-existent compared to other kids his age, but he's determined."

At eight years old, Max is quite the trooper, his parents say.

With a zest for life and enjoying school, he has come a long way. But that doesn't mean there aren't mental scars associated with what he's been through.

"He's a got a bit of a fear surrounding blood. If he falls and scrapes his knee, he will be scared about bleeding and then having to go back to the hospital. It's little triggers like such that can bring him back to that time. Working on communication with him, he's shared with us his worries and that's helped us help him through it all," Albina said.

Max has stepped in as Chief Executive Darer (CED) of CEO Dare to Cure, challenging business leaders to help fundraise to support lifesaving childhood cancer research, for kids like him.

CEO Dare to Cure ran in September and October with events in both Sydney and Melbourne this year, raising vital funds for the Children's Cancer Institute. 

Just last year the charity event raised an incredible $1.6 million, and this year was no different. It's important considering the Children's Cancer Institute is the only independent medical research institute in Australia wholly dedicated to curing childhood cancer and pioneering safer treatments.

Max has even got to appear on TV as part of his role, which Albina said he did very well. 

Albina and Max sharing their story on Studio 10. Post continues below.

"While Max was going through treatment, we saw the important work that the whole medical team does - from nurses, doctors, child therapists, music therapists and more. We knew as a family we wanted to give back for all they had done for us, and getting involved with the Children's Cancer Institute was the best opportunity," Albina said.

"Max was the child ambassador for the Sydney event, and had the time of his life getting to speak to people, pat snakes and be on TV. He was like 'sign me up!'"

For Albina, her two kids and her husband, they consider themselves the lucky ones. Each year 950 families will hear the words, 'your child has cancer'. And for some of those families, their child isn't able to recover.

For Albina, she said that once you've spent time at any children's hospital and reflect on what the outcome could have been for little Max, they feel very grateful.

"While in there you meet other families and bond with kids who are no longer around today. When you hear parents signing off a 'do not resuscitate' order, that is not something you can come back from unscathed. Even in 20 or 30 years ago, the survival rates for leukemia were slim compared to what they are today. That is why raising awareness and funds is so crucial - to try and make the outcomes far better for those diagnosed."

Now for Max, family time is even more special than what it used to be. And that's something they don't take for granted.

"I guess the silver lining of this whole thing is that it teaches you absolutely to live day by day," Albina said. "It really strips it all down to your basic values - what you love, what matters in life and who you want to be. And that's been something our whole family has come to know."

To make an impact you can register for CEO Dare to Cure for 2023, provide a donation today to CEO Dare to Cure, or also donate generally to the Children's Cancer Institute.

Feature Image: Supplied.