Ray Hadley’s heartfelt plan to support granddaughter amidst her health battle

In the midst of his granddaughter Lola’s battle with leukaemia, Ray Hadley has shared the deeply touching way he plans to support her through this difficult time.

On January 6, while on the Gold Coast, Hadley received a call from his daughter, Laura, informing him that Lola, the middle child of Laura and her husband Brad, had become ill. Blood tests confirmed the worst: Lola had leukaemia.

“As people watching this would understand, who’ve been involved with someone in their family with childhood leukaemia, there was a state of shock – a fit and healthy little girl, beautiful little girl, stricken,” he said in a recent video posted to social media.

“After the initial shock of the diagnosis, my daughter, Laura, my son in law, Brad, rallied, ably supported by other members of the family.

“The journey we’ve endured for the last seven weeks has been, I guess, in many parts, agonising, and in other parts, enlightening.

“Enlightening because of the courage and bravery shown by my little granddaughter, Lola, despite lumbar punctures on a regular basis, bone marrow biopsies on a regular basis, and that means general aesthetics on a regular basis.

“But she still is determined. She’s still wonderful. She still smiles.”

Now, during an emotional interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday, February 24, Hadley explained why he felt it was important to share their story.

“I said ‘We need to confront this and tell people the truth and what’s happening’,” he said.

When Fordham asked Hadley how much Lola comprehended her recent diagnosis, Hadley opened up about the toll the treatment is taking on Lola and the touching way he plans to show his support as she navigates this challenging time.

“She must understand some of it, she’s a smart little kid, but I don’t think she understands the gravity of what she’s confronting and obviously there’s pain involved, there’s discomfort, she’s constantly got a feeding tube in,” he shared.

“She was a little, slightly-built thing before but she’s put on about six kilos because of steroids and other medical procedures.

“She hasn’t lost her hair yet but that will happen in the foreseeable future and I’m going to get my head shaved when it happens.”