The little golfer finding joy between hospital stays

HARRY Duffy is an old soul.

In his spare time, the eight-year-old can be found playing golf, beating his grandparents at chess and solving a Rubik’s Cube faster than most people can scramble it.

He is an avid learner, an older brother, a Magpies supporter and a regular at the Royal Children’s Hospital Children’s Cancer Centre.

On 18 February, Harry was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

The months since have been filled with long stays in Melbourne and intense treatment that he will continue for the next two and a half years.

A member of The Sands Golf Club, before his diagnosis, Harry could often be found at the course after school and on weekends with his dad Jack.

The club community has been among the many groups supporting Harry throughout his treatment.

Golf involves more than just whacking a ball, the young player said, with important decisions to be made on every shot.

“[Dad] taught me and then I started doing golf lessons,” Harry said.

 

“We go to this place called the driving range and there are things called greens and clubs called putters. On the green you putt the ball and you try and get it into the hole.

“There are bigger clubs called drivers that you use to hit the ball really far to try and get it on the green.

“You need to try and get it in the hole in the least number of shots.”

Harry quickly fell in love with the game and said he enjoys playing alongside his little brother and best friend.

Along with spending time with his family, Harry said his favourite part of playing at The Sands was the snacks.

“It’s just around the corner from home and we usually get some calamari,” Harry said.

Despite being away from the course for treatment, Harry continues to find ways to swing a club.

“I have golf on my Nintendo Switch and I have it on my iPad, so I can still play golf without walking around. All I have to do is swing my arm,” he said.

Treatment for Harry’s leukaemia leaves his body weak, and it can take time for his leg strength to return between rounds of treatment.

 

It has affected his ability to play sport, but golf has been gentle enough for him to return sooner.

“He hasn’t been able to return to many other activities,” mum Jess Duffy said.

“But golf is something that he was able to get back into as soon as he had the strength back to be able to walk.

“Golf’s been the one thing that he could go back to really, so it’s been a real source of joy.”

Splitting their time between Torquay with their two younger children and Melbourne with Harry, Jess said it has been a difficult time for the whole family.

Harry said having Mum and Dad take turns staying with him in Melbourne has its ups and downs.

“Number one, Mum can’t do hand massages but number two, Dad can’t read. He always falls asleep when he tries to read to me,” Harry said.

In the months since Harry’s diagnosis, the Torquay community has rallied around the Duffy family.

Jess said she initially struggled to accept help from the community, but the outpouring of support has been overwhelming.

“It’s just incredible to see people that you know a little bit doing everything they can to help you, and people that you don’t even know supporting you,” she said.

 

“It has shown us people are inherently good and kind.”

A visit from one of Harry’s teachers to the hospital earlier this year reinforced how much the community’s support has meant to the family.

“We had a visit from one of the teachers from school and Harry said it made him feel like the most special person in the world,” Jess said. “People are going out of their way to do things to help and visit and bring things to do during boring hospital wait times.”

Harry is expected to remain in Melbourne for treatment until the end of August, with time away from home proving difficult.

While he is away, he continues playing digital golf and preparing for a Rubik’s Cube competition.

Meanwhile, The Sands is preparing for its annual Jarrod Lyle Charity Golf Day on Friday 28 August.

Lyle himself was diagnosed

with leukaemia as a teenager and worked at The Sands before turning professional.

This year’s event will support the #HelpHarry campaign, raising funds for Harry and the Duffy family.