Frank Li: Perth parents’ desperate bid to save teenage son after sixth relapse of rare cancer

The family of a Duncraig teenager who is battling a sixth relapse of leukaemia are desperately trying to fund potentially lifesaving treatment overseas after exhausting all medical options in Australia.

Frank Li has spent 12 of his 15 years battling acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, enduring relentless rounds of chemotherapy, two bone marrow transplants, immunotherapies and extensive radiation treatments.

Frank was diagnosed just before his fourth birthday in October 2013 and has spent more than half of his life in and out of hospital since then.

After finishing treatment for his fifth relapse in May 2024, Frank was able to return to Carine Senior High School in September and again take up his much-loved hobbies of fencing and soccer.

But in a devastating blow in January, a swollen right eye that was initially dismissed as hayfever turned out to be cancer, with the leukaemia returning for a sixth time on Frank’s right eyelid and left kidney.

Frank’s mother Rita Liu said she and her husband Bright Li were heartbroken to discover he had exhausted all his treatment options in Australia, prompting them to turn to hospitals overseas in a desperate attempt to save their son’s life.

After contacting doctors in America, China and Hong Kong, the family got in touch with the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Singapore, which is seeing success with an innovative new treatment.

Doctors at the hospital have told Frank’s family that a double allogeneic stem cell transplant offers the teenager a chance at survival.

But the therapy costs $400,000, prompting Ms Liu to turn to the public in a race against time.

A fundraising page set up this week has already received more than $123,000 in donations.

The treatment requires stem cells from Frank’s parents, and Perth Children’s Hospital is already coordinating with KK Hospital in Singapore, with hopes that Frank can begin the treatment in three to four weeks.

The family expects to spend more than three months in Singapore for the treatment process.

Ms Liu said the response from friends, the school communities in Duncraig and Carine, and strangers had given the family hope during their darkest time.

“I cannot put into words how deeply grateful I am; this kind of help, support, and generosity means the world to us and is a true testament to humanity - it’s more than just financial support, as it gives us the strength and encouragement to keep fighting,” she said.

“As a mother, I cannot let my child’s treatment slip away because of money - especially when we know this treatment could work for him and has already helped children with similar conditions.

“So I have no choice. I have to do whatever it takes to raise the funds. I have to make it happen. I must save him.”

If the family can fund the treatment, Frank will undergo radiation and chemotherapy at PCH before travelling to Singapore for the double transplant.

Despite the “unimaginable physical and emotional pain” he had endured for years, Mrs Liu said her son had shown remarkable resilience.

“Spending half of his life in hospital and enduring 12 years of treatment, he has suffered both physically and mentally, yet remains a positive, kind, honest, and warm-hearted young man full of life, as anyone who knows him can attest. He possesses an unbreakable will to live,” Mrs Liu said.

“Without hesitation, he chose to fight - to keep moving forward, to survive.

“And as his parents, we will stand unwaveringly by his side, fighting this battle with him until the very end.”

Mrs Liu left her job in 2013 to care for Frank full-time. The family of five have since relied solely on Mr Li’s income.

The couple have two younger sons, Ivan and Jeremy. Frank’s parents have donated bone marrow to Frank, in 2020 and 2023, and have travelled four times to Sydney and once overseas for treatment.

Faced with astronomical treatment costs, Mrs Liu said they had reached their limit and were unable to afford the expenses.

“Every donation, no matter the size, gives Frank hope and a chance for survival, allowing us to be by his side with the love and care he needs to endure this battle,” Mrs Liu said.

“We hope that one day, when we emerge from this ordeal, we can pay it forward and give back to society.”

To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-frank-li