9. From Heartbreak to Research: Karlie Ross on Medical Trauma, and her daughter's Leukaemia journey.

In this episode of The Long Road Podcast, host Lisa McKelvey sits down with Karlie Ross from Toowoomba, QLD, to discuss her family's deeply personal journey through childhood cancer. Karlie and her husband, Robert, received the devastating news that their daughter Ellie had leukaemia just before her second birthday. At the same time, they were navigating the complexities of raising their son, Leo, who has non-verbal autism outside the home.

Through it all, they've fought to find balance in a world they never expected to be part of. Karlie shares the raw emotions of diagnosis day, the challenges of hospital life with a toddler, and how they managed to maintain some normalcy for Leo during Ellie's treatment.

What makes Karlie's story particularly powerful is how she channeled her family's experience into action. Today, she works in childhood cancer research, helping to advance treatments and support for other families facing similar diagnoses. Her journey from heartbroken parent to passionate advocate demonstrates how personal trauma can sometimes lead to unexpected purpose.

This conversation offers insight, hope, and a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we can find meaning and create positive change.