New Zealand Boy’s Battle to Reach Lifesaving Cancer Trial in the United States
A New Zealand family is racing against time to raise funds for a groundbreaking cancer trial in the United States that could save their 11-year-old son’s life. The trial, run at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, is among the most advanced cancer immunotherapy studies in the world and offers a potential lifeline for children facing aggressive, treatment-resistant disease.
A Rare and Relentless Diagnosis
Hugo Donaldson was just nine when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, an extremely rare childhood cancer that affects only one to three New Zealand children each year. After nine rounds of high-dose chemotherapy and 28 radiation sessions, Hugo was declared cancer-free in August 2024, but only months later the disease returned.
His parents, Aaron and Samantha Donaldson, say local doctors have exhausted curative options. “Hugo has fought so hard, but the cancer keeps coming back. This trial represents his best, and perhaps only, chance at survival,” says Aaron.
Hope in a Groundbreaking US Cancer Trial
Hugo has been accepted into a CAR T-cell cancer trial at Texas Children’s Hospital, one of only eight children worldwide selected so far. The experimental treatment reprograms the patient’s immune cells to recognise and destroy tumour cells, a revolutionary approach showing promising results against previously untreatable cancers.
The treatment itself is provided at no cost as part of the study, but travel, accommodation and hospital expenses must be covered privately. The family needs around NZ$500,000 to get to Houston and complete the programme. Their Givealittle page, The Donaldsons Continue to Fight – Help Fund Offshore Cancer Treatment for Their Son, Hugo, has been set up to help raise the funds.
Inside the Science of CAR T-Cell Therapy
Dr David Steffin, Associate Chief of the Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Texas Children’s, says the study is breaking new ground. “To put it bluntly, we’re looking for a cure. This clinical trial is the only one of its kind for treating solid tumours with CAR T-cell therapy. Our hope is that long-term remission will soon become the norm,” he says.
CAR T-cell therapy works by engineering a patient’s T-cells to detect a specific marker present on tumour cells but not on healthy tissue. This precision allows doctors to target cancer while sparing vital organs. Early results have been remarkable, and some children who had endured multiple rounds of chemotherapy are now back in school and living normal lives.
According to the US National Cancer Institute, researchers worldwide are now seeing encouraging progress in using CAR T-cells against solid tumours, once considered among the hardest to treat.
How the Treatment Will Work
Hugo’s blood will be collected in New Zealand and sent to the United States, where scientists will genetically modify his T-cells to recognise and attack his specific cancer. The process takes up to six weeks, after which the family must travel to Houston for a five-week course of low-dose chemotherapy and the CAR T-cell infusion. The procedure demands close monitoring and post-treatment care, making international travel and accommodation costs a significant burden.
Although the Donaldsons have full medical insurance, their policy does not cover overseas care. They have applied to withdraw KiwiSaver funds, extended their mortgage and sold personal assets to bridge the gap, but public support remains crucial to getting Hugo to treatment in time.
“We hate having to ask for help, but if there’s a chance this trial could save Hugo’s life, we have to try,” says Aaron. Sam adds, “He knows it’s serious, but we don’t tell him everything. He’s just a little boy who wants to get better and play like other kids.”
New Zealand Rallies Behind the Family
Hugo’s story has been featured by national media such as NZ Herald, with thousands of New Zealanders already offering donations at a rate of over 1,000 per hour.
How You Can Help
Every donation brings Hugo closer to the lifesaving treatment he needs. Those wishing to support the family can donate via their official Givealittle page at givealittle.co.nz/cause/the-donaldsons-continue-to-fight.
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