Hope for tiny cancer battlers

Rotorua twins Theo and Laken Archer were diagnosed with the rare Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia but doctors say the leukemia could be gone before their first birthday. Photo / Supplied

The parents of Rotorua twins battling a rare cancer never thought they'd rejoice at news their babies have an unidentified syndrome - but that syndrome may mean the cancer's gone before the twins' first birthday.

Theo and Laken Archer were born six weeks early with treatable heart murmurs.

However, within weeks, the boys faced a desperate race against time after being diagnosed with the rare Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia.

The condition accounts for about 1 per cent of all childhood cancers and it is almost unheard of for both babies to have.

It was thought the twins, born in Rotorua in early September, would need bone marrow transplants to survive.

The family faced an agonising two-month wait for test results to find out if either parent or 2-year-old daughter Oaklee would prove a match.

Last week, the boys' parents, Stephanie Archer and Vaughn Snowling, were devastated when told by specialists from Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland that none of the family were suitable donors.

But tears soon turned to joy when informed the babies' blood results had been improving - and the leukemia could be gone before their first birthday.

"We were given heartbreaking then hopeful news in the space of a few minutes," Mrs Archer said. "It is now thought likely the babies have an as-yet unidentified syndrome.

"It means, all going well, the cancer could go away. The boys' enlarged livers and spleens will revert back to normal and their marrow should eventually start functioning normally."

Mrs Archer told the Rotorua Daily Post that it was strange the syndrome came as good news.

"We got the results back and some even better news really. It seems strange to want your baby to have a syndrome but if it means their cancer will go away with time then it's worth it."

The babies will be seen by a geneticist this week to try to identify the syndrome for appropriate treatment.

However, she said both boys still faced challenges.

Laken needs open heart surgery and Theo has two faults that are being monitored; they are still very small for their age and are struggling to put on weight. "They are not out of the woods yet but there is now no rush for a bone marrow transplant," Mrs Archer said. "We have new hope and the future is looking much brighter.

"We will always help our little battlers with whatever life throws at them and the help and support we have had from friends, family, medical staff and wellwishers is unbelievable."

-To follow the boys' journey, go to Theo and Lakens JMML journey on Facebook. -

Additional reporting Adriana Weber