Former 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley has given an emotional update after his three-year-old granddaughter Lola was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Speaking on 2GB’s Ben Fordham Live, the talkback king said the past seven weeks have been a living nightmare.
“On January 6, I got a call from the Gold Coast saying she hadn’t been well… she hadn’t been well since Christmas Day, Laura was concerned,” Hadley told Fordham from Las Vegas, where he is visiting for the opening NRL match.
“By midday on Monday, she’d been diagnosed with leukaemia. I drove back hurriedly, went straight to the hospital.
“Brad and Laura were inconsolable, as most people would be in that situation.”
Hadley said Lola immediately began aggressive treatment for the blood cancer.
Despite the tough battle ahead of her, he said his toddler granddaughter still lights up every room.
“The poor little thing, she’s a beautiful kid… always happy and always smiling,” Hadley said.
“She bounces back, she’s smiling. She tricks me… she says, ‘Poppy, there’s a spider in your hair, Poppy. She laughs and rolls around and thinks she’s tricked me again.”
He added: “That brings joy to everyone.”
Lola’s parents Brad and Laura are now bouncing between home and the hospital on the Gold Coast as treatment continues.
Hadley said the diagnosis has utterly rocked his family.
“Their lives are just in disarray and on hold,” he said.
“We’re not special, we’re just battling through it. It’s a real battle. Thank you to everyone, I’ve been inundated with support.”
The retired broadcaster plans to shave his head once Lola loses her hair from chemotherapy.
Hadley said he went public with Lola’s diagnosis to let other families know they’re not alone.
“We need to confront this and tell people the truth and what’s happening,” he said.
“Laura said there are hundreds of families just like us across the country.”
