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Stories from the Máxima Center

Read stories from parents, children and professionals about life with childhood cancer.
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Keshon, 11, has had a brain tumor since he was three years old

‘I think 'cancer' is a bit of a big word. It scares people. Still, I think it's important to talk about it.’
20 May 2025

Didier (3) was born with Down Syndrome and leukemia

'Within just four hours, we went from a beautiful home birth to a newborn hooked up to tubes in a hospital.'
07 May 2025

A lump in 18-year-old Pleun’s neck turned out to be lymphoma

'Just because the treatment is over doesn’t mean I’m back to who I was. Recovery is only just beginning.'
24 March 2025

Oskar (8) was diagnosed with medulloblastoma twice

'Despite everything he is going through, Oskar continues to focus on what is still possible. We are proud of him.'
24 January 2025

Kayden (4) passed away from a metastatic Wilms tumor

'You feel powerless. There’s nothing you can do. I was also angry. Everything was so uncertain. What lay ahead of us?'
09 January 2025

Lex Noah (4) diagnosed with leukemia: Treated in Colombia and later at the Máxima Center

'From the moment we arrived in the Máxima Center, we felt welcome. The difference with Colombia was enormous.'
24 December 2024

Rachel Cameron (28) had leukemia at the age of twelve. Today, she works in the cleanrooms of the Princess Máxima Center.

'Although it didn’t feel like it at the time, it seems like everything happened for a reason.’
29 November 2024

Kimaya (3) has neuroblastoma and received immunotherapy

‘It can go in any direction. But whatever happens, we live in the now, and that's the tip I want to give other parents.’
24 October 2024

Rowan (2) Diagnosed with bone cancer at an extraordinarily young age

‘After ten months of treatments, he was 'clean'. Unfortunately, it went bad again soon after. Because of his syndrome, the chance of recurrence with metastases was so high. He died at home with me.’
13 September 2024

Ryan (8) had a bone tumor and got a rotationplasty

‘A high-speed train without an end station, that’s how it suddenly feels. Everything moves very fast, while a week earlier we had no idea anything serious was going on. At the Máxima Center, they did more scans, and within two weeks, the first chemo started.'
11 September 2024

Madelief (10) had a brain tumor

'It was a tough year, for Madelief, for us as parents, and also for our other children. But in a way, it will also make them stronger and teach them to look at life differently.'
02 August 2024

Story of a survivor: Poyraz (10) was diagnosed with leukemia while on vacation in Turkey

'If you can, keep smiling. That’s what my mom and I did, and it really helped.'
28 June 2024

Nomi (5) could no longer be cured of neuroblastoma

Nomi passed away at the age of five from complications of neuroblastoma. Her parents, Yvon and Pieter, share their story.
08 May 2024

Bradley (12) is diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

'It's hard to explain to those who can't see behind our front door. It can feel lonely,' says mother Shirley Lynn.
07 March 2024

Story of a survivor: Marleen (20) overcame Hodgkin's and soon sails the world

'I want to show the kids currently at the Máxima Center that a world of opportunities awaits them after childhood cancer.'
02 February 2024

Testimonial by Wouter and Astrid, parents of Iris

‘All the lovely volunteers and care staff do everything to make our stay as pleasant as possible'
19 December 2023

Noud (3) has Burkitt lymphoma

'In a time when you go through so much, you learn what really matters. We immensely enjoy things that used to seem obvious.'
12 December 2023

Testimonial by Esther, mother of Maxime

The Máxima Center still feels like home to us; we have always felt understood. The social workers have also guided us very well.
16 November 2023

Lynn (10) passed away from acute myeloid leukemia

06 November 2023

Survivor Story: Eva

Eva's chances of survival were estimated at 20 percent. Her mother Ellen: 'During the first week, we just cried. We thought she was going to die.'
05 September 2023

Acute myeloid leukemia was discovered during Jes' (14) holiday

‘I now know what I have. Because I almost lost it.’
01 September 2023

Wouter (23) passed away from neuroblastoma

29 August 2023

Elidah (14) was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma

'I'm very grateful that I'm alive. That I'm not dead because of this disease. I get to live, day to day.'
18 August 2023

Tibbe (16) has a prosthetic leg

13 July 2023

Testimonial Jeroen and Maaike, parents of Florian

'It sometimes seems like the Máxima Center doesn't know death, but unfortunately that's not the case'
14 June 2023

Mother Jessica sensed something was wrong: Ediene (4) has leukemia

'It's leukemia,' I told my partner and my mother when Ediene had been feeling unwell for some time.'
13 June 2023

Story of a survivor: Froukje had leukemia

'Sometimes I try to explain to classmates what I feel, but they don't understand the pain. I find that difficult.'
12 June 2023

Testimonial Leonie, mother of Seph

'The staff are tremendously driven, have made a conscious choice to work at the Máxima Center and you sincerely feel that when you walk around.'
11 June 2023

Parents Kat & Myrna tell of tumor in newborn Oakley

‘Everyone knew us at the Princess Máxima Center. They don't see a newborn baby very often.'
09 June 2023

Testimonial Aimee, mother of Charlie

'And on the long days when you can't leave the room: look for activities that can.'
05 June 2023

Story of a survivor: Cherine had bone cancer

'I have rediscovered my identity and discovered what I can still do.'
03 June 2023

Testimonial Carola, mother of Cato

'You'd rather not be there but if you must, this really is the best place for your child'
02 June 2023

Vincent (18) has a brain tumor and is terminally ill

'I am no longer curable. I want to help others in such a a comparable situation and show them how to stay positive,’ he writes.
01 June 2023

Testimonial Marianne, mother of Bas

'Having our own space and our own bed, shower and toilet for us parents. That's very nice'
30 May 2023

Sem (3) has leukemia

His mother Miranda (35) shares their story and offers tips. 'My mother's feeling told me something wasn't right.'
17 May 2023

Testimonial Flora, grandmother of Naïma

'The staff always try to make the treatments happen with as little stress as possible.'
08 May 2023

17 April 2023

09 April 2023