A beautiful ballerina: How Supertee became part of Ava’s leukaemia journey

When three-year-old Ava was diagnosed with leukaemia, her family’s world changed in an instant. Suddenly, everyday family life was replaced by hospital stays, procedures, chemotherapy and an entirely new medical language. Amid an incredibly difficult time, a Supertee gave Ava something simple but powerful — greater freedom to move, play and feel like herself. Her mum shares their family’s journey and the moments that made Ava’s Ballerina Supertee so special.

Ava’s medical journey

Ava was diagnosed with leukaemia on 9 May 2024.

Our world as a normal, happy and busy family changed with one sentence: “Ava has leukaemia.”

In that moment, our lives changed completely.

We were suddenly thrown into the world of childhood cancer at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH). We had to learn about blood tests, lumbar punctures, bone marrow aspirations, chemotherapy schedules and medical terminology that initially sounded like another language.

Ava was just three years old when she was diagnosed, and our twin boys were only one. We had three children under three and quickly had to learn how to divide our lives between hospital and home while helping three very young children adjust to enormous changes.

I stayed by Ava’s side in hospital, while Liam divided his time between the twins and being with us. Grandma and Grandad — my parents — cared for the boys much of the time as we navigated hospital life and did everything we could to make Ava as comfortable as possible.

That was when we first discovered Supertee.

How did your family first come across Supertee?

During the first few weeks following her diagnosis, Ava underwent numerous procedures under general anaesthetic.

Doctors needed to determine the specific type of leukaemia she had, and she underwent bone marrow aspirations and lumbar punctures, including procedures where chemotherapy was administered into the fluid surrounding her brain and spinal cord.

There were so many procedures that brought stress, worry and fear for Ava — and for us as parents watching our little girl go through it all.

I remember one particular day trying to get Ava ready for theatre. She was fasting and taking steroids, so she was incredibly hungry, frustrated and upset.

A nurse came into the room and suggested a special gown with openings along the side, allowing the medical team to access Ava without completely removing her clothing.

I immediately thought, Yes, please.

The nurse brought a Supertee into the room.

Once Ava changed into it, she was able to sit up in bed more comfortably without tubes and IV lines pulling at her clothes. Something that might sound so simple made an enormous difference.

How has Supertee helped Ava throughout her medical journey?

Supertee gave Ava freedom.

She could sit up, colour, play and even run around the oncology ward. She could move without tubes and cords from the IV pole constantly tugging at her clothing.

The side openings also meant doctors and nurses could access and check her port more easily, sometimes without having to disturb her while she was sleeping.

When Ava had a port placed in her chest to receive chemotherapy, Supertees became even more valuable.

Then Ava was gifted a Ballerina Supertee — and she absolutely loved it.

She would dance around her IV pole in her Ballerina Supertee and play in her hospital room. Seeing her in something bright and colourful, rather than clothing that made her feel like a patient, meant so much to us.

For a moment, she could simply feel like herself again.

Even while experiencing the unimaginable challenges of having cancer at three years old, her Supertee made her feel beautiful.

As her hair began to fall out, her confidence didn’t disappear with it. Even in hospital, she could still be our beautiful ballerina.

For that, Supertee will always hold a very special place in our hearts.

What would you say to families who haven’t heard of Supertee — or to people who don’t understand what hospital life can be like for a child?

If you are fortunate enough not to know the hallways of a children’s oncology ward, it can be difficult to understand how valuable something like a Supertee can be.

To these children, it doesn’t feel like a hospital gown.

It feels like dress-up.

When your child is experiencing the pain, fear and uncertainty that can come with a cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy, even small things can make a difficult experience feel more manageable.

For Ava, her Supertee brought colour and imagination into a place filled with procedures, medications and medical equipment.

Supertees bring joy, happiness, magic and hope to children when they need it most.

For that, we will be forever grateful.