Her baby survived leukaemia. Five years later, this mother was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer herself

Vanessia Woo, a 48-year-old mother, recently faced a deeply personal challenge as she prepared to walk the runway alongside her eight-year-old daughter, Olivia Tan, at the Fashion for Cancer charity fashion show in Singapore. The event marks a poignant moment for both women, as Olivia, who once battled infantile acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, now stands alongside her mother, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2023. Olivia's journey began just five weeks after her birth. At that age, she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of childhood leukemia, which affects the bone marrow and leads to an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. These cells crowd out healthy blood cells, weakening the body’s ability to fight infections, transport oxygen, and clot blood. Olivia required immediate treatment, including chemotherapy, even before she could begin solid foods. The treatment was intense, causing severe side effects such as foot drop, which left her unable to lift her left foot or control movement below her ankle. To assist her mobility, Olivia now uses an ankle-foot orthosis. Throughout her early months, Olivia spent six months in an isolation ward, where her condition made close contact with others risky. Her mother, Vanessia, documented these difficult times through photographs, capturing moments that lacked the typical milestones of infancy, no first smiles, no stroller rides, no pool visits. Instead, the images revealed a small child connected to medical tubing, including a Hickman line used for administering chemotherapy. In one photograph, Olivia appears nearly unrecognizable due to swelling caused by the treatment. Another image shows the isolation room itself, filled with medical equipment, with the child barely visible. The diagnosis came swiftly. After a sudden loss of appetite and persistent vomiting, Olivia was taken to the hospital, where repeated blood tests confirmed the worst. Six doctors visited the family within hours, delivering the grim news that 90 percent of the cells in Olivia’s bone marrow were cancerous. The prognosis was bleak, with only a 30 percent chance of survival. Despite the odds, the family chose to proceed with treatment. Vanessia recalls asking a doctor what would happen if they refused therapy. The response was chilling: the child’s organs would fail, and she would suffer terribly. Vanessia took three years off work to care for Olivia, spending six months in the isolation ward. During this time, her two older children, aged 10 and 2, were cared for by their father, who took paternity leave for four months. He relieved Vanessia during the day, allowing her to return home briefly to rest and clean. Nurses, wearing personal protective equipment, delivered the chemotherapy, ensuring the treatment continued despite the risks. Now, as Olivia prepares to walk the runway, her story serves as a powerful reminder of resilience and hope. Her mother, having faced her own health challenges, walks beside her, symbolizing the strength found in shared experiences. The Fashion for Cancer event aims to raise awareness and funds for cancer research and patient support, bringing together individuals who have overcome illness and continue to inspire others.