Rowan, a 20-year-old physiotherapy student at the University of Queensland, is currently fighting acute myeloid leukaemia. His brave battle has been an inspiration to millions across the globe. His journey started quite out of the blue, following a pre-treatment blood test when he was being treated with Roaccutane, an acne drug. Despite this life-altering diagnosis, Rowan has remained resilient, continuing his studies, engaging in sports, and inspiring a global campaign aimed at increasing stem cell donor registrations.
Once Rowan received his diagnosis, he spent four months trapped in the walls of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. While living through the extremely difficult realities of cancer treatment at the time, he was able to maintain an uplifting energy. His cancer levels are low enough that he has just graduated from his second year of university. This accomplishment is a testament to his incredible willpower to keep some normalcy in his life.
A Family’s Determination
Rowan’s parents, Bronwyn Tong and Bob Law are fierce advocates for their son. They advocate for other folks going through the same fight. They started the “Register for Rowan” campaign with a goal of increasing awareness about the critical need for stem cell donors. Their efforts have connected them with organizations in Canada, the US, and the UK, significantly broadening the reach of their message.
Dr. Tong was frank about the emotional impact of Rowan’s diagnosis, saying, “When you get that news, it blew us out of the water. She stressed that achieving a perfect match isn’t so easy, especially for people of varied ethnic backgrounds. She said that because she has a mother with Chinese heritage and a father with Scottish and English ancestry, a Eurasian donor would be the most probable match. This unique combination drastically improves the odds of identifying a compatible donor.
Even with these hurdles, the campaign has proven effective, inspiring thousands to add their names to the stem cell donor registry. We’ve been trying to really push and do a lot of effort to register more people,” said Dr. Tong. The family’s commitment to raising awareness has inspired many, including Jias Mick, who shared his thoughts on the campaign: “I thought that I would support this family that is dealing with a tough time.”
Rowan’s Ongoing Battle
Rowan takes oral chemotherapy tablets twice a day and actively manages his health. He needs to get his blood levels drawn once a week, and the intrusive procedure of bone marrow biopsy done every three months. He’s not giving up optimism. His brother and sister, Matthew and Annaka, are 50 percent matches and possible future donors.
Despite all the treatment, Rowan has been able to take regularly a six-week holiday to Europe earlier this year together with his girlfriend. This trip introduced him to life outside his illness and to enjoy experiences that every young adult lives for. “Everyone deserves an opportunity to be healthy and live their best life,” Max Wilds remarked, reflecting on Rowan’s journey and its impact on others.
Through every moment of this trial, Rowan’s unwavering spirit to protect her daughter and preserve the rhythm of everyday life shines through. He hasn’t let his illness be the deciding factor in his life. He’s going after all of the things he has a passion for doing, rugby included. “He was bringing it in,” Dr. Tong thought back on her son’s resistance during those formative years to this battle with adversity.
Raising Awareness
Rowan has quickly turned into the face of a larger campaign urging 18- to 35-year-olds to sign up as stem cell donors. His story resonates with many, highlighting the critical need for diverse potential donors in matching patients with compatible stem cells.
Dr. Cameron Curley emphasized the importance of increasing donor registrations: “To find a perfect match can be challenging.” The campaign’s outreach and messaging has proven to be extremely effective in raising awareness about the urgent need for more donors among specific demographic groups.
Rowan continues to battle fiercely against leukaemia. Now as he approaches the end of his oral chemotherapy regimen in January, he’s hopeful for the future. The community’s support for his family’s campaign is an inspiring example of how mobilizing can bring big changes in the face of serious health emergencies.
