Advertisement

Little girl's 'dental issue' turns out to be leukaemia


A six-year-old Queensland girl is battling leukaemia in hospital after a lump on her jaw was initially thought to be a dental issue.

After Hunter’s family noticed a lump on her jaw, the little girl spent the last months of 2018 in and out of doctors’ clinics, sent home each time with a prescription for antibiotics.

Despite the medication, the lump continued to grow and became increasingly more uncomfortable for the Maryborough girl until she woke up screaming in pain with a severe headache and feeling sick in November.

Hunter Spindler was diagnosed with T-cell leukaemia after a lump on her jaw continued to grow and cause her pain. Source: GoFundMe/Lee Spindler
Hunter Spindler was diagnosed with T-cell leukaemia after a lump on her jaw continued to grow and cause her pain. Source: GoFundMe/Lee Spindler

She was taken to emergency at Maryborough Hospital where doctors initially believed the lump to be an abscess – a collection of pus build-up under the skin.

“[The doctors] took some bloods and sent us to dental,” the girl’s grandfather, Lee Spindler, wrote on a GoFundMe page he set up to raise money to help support Hunter.

That diagnosis was swiftly updated once the high number of cancerous cells were uncovered.

“We weren’t there for long when they pulled us back up to emergency told us that her cancerous cells were high and we were flown down to [Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane]. We then learned that Hunty has T-cell type leukaemia,” the devastated grandfather wrote.

T-Cell leukaemia is a rare cancer generally characterised by the overproduction of abnormal blood cells.

Mr Spindler said the diagnosis “took us all by surprise”.

The six-year-old had been receiving treatment at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane since November, with her family three hours away at Maryborough. Source: GoFundMe/Lee Spindler
The six-year-old had been receiving treatment at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane since November, with her family three hours away at Maryborough. Source: GoFundMe/Lee Spindler

While Hunter remains in hospital three hours’ drive from home while receiving treatment – her family travels back and forth to spend time with her.

“Her medical expenses, as well as food, fuel, parking and maintenance on the car are extremely expensive,” Mr Spindler wrote.

“I am not one to usually ask for help, but I have no other choice but to reach out and ask for all the help that I can get.”

Hunter put up a brave fight against leukaemia while undergoing chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Source: GoFundMe/Lee Spindler
Hunter put up a brave fight against leukaemia while undergoing chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Source: GoFundMe/Lee Spindler

About a month ago Hunter was reportedly in good spirits.

“Hunty is doing a lot better, she is still not allowed to go home unfortunately,” the granddad wrote on the fundraising page.

“But we all have hopes that she will hopefully be allowed home in six weeks. She will still have a lot of appointments, but at least she will be able to come home for a little bit.”

Another family member, Krissy Spindler, added: “My beautiful baby girl she is doing so well with all of her treatments I am so very proud of her. She is such a fighter.

“We still have a very long road ahead of us but I trust in my little girl that she is going to be okay.”