The only boy who survived the cancer drug test 30 years ago

The new cancer drug trial killed 24 Australian children and Michael Crossland was the only surviving patient.

At 11 months, Michael Crossland was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma , a type of cancer that affects immature or developing cells . That day, just before Michael's first birthday, the doctors told the mother that she had no chance of surviving and advised to take her home to stay with her family on the last days.

The photo was taken at the hospital when Michael was 2 1/2 years old.(Photo: Supplied).

Michael's mother took up the courage to ask the doctor, how much hope she had to live."The doctor frankly said the death rate was 96%," Michael told News.

Although there is only 4% chance of life, Michael's mother still hopes to save her son. Michael began receiving chemotherapy from his one-year-old birthday to four years later. The whole family hoped Michael's illness would change but in 1987, the boy's condition not only did not get better but it was worse."The doctors told my mother that the treatment became meaningless, the tumor was impudent and metastasized to more than half of my body , " the boy is now a boy who remembers.

A surgery again took place with new hope. But, after six hours of surgery to remove the tumors, the doctor concluded there was nothing more to be done."Immediately my father and my three sisters flew from Coffs Harbor to Sydney to say goodbye," Michael said.

However, life has countless miracles. At the darkest moment, at the end of Michael's tunnel, light was visible again. Because, the very next day, in that hospital, an American doctor had just tested an anticancer drug called DTIC . Of course, Michael's family could not ignore this opportunity.

Michael joined the test with 24 other children. The evolution of the experiment haunted Michael until today.

Michael became Australia's most famous speaker.(Photo: Supplied).

Michael remembers very clearly, it was 9am on Tuesday. Within 24 hours of the start of the trial, all 25 people were transferred from the oncology room to the burn room. The side effects of the drug "burned " all patients. The children cried out in despair because it felt like they were burning. The body is covered with blisters, burning from the inside out. "The medical staff used us to wrap the bandages like living corpses and put them in ice tanks, the purpose of preventing our brains from" ripening " , Michael recalls.

The results of the experiment made the whole country wave. Within 30 days, 20 of the 25 children died. In 90 days, 24 out of 25 babies died because they could not stand the destruction of the drug. Michael is the only survivor.

Michael's mother must stand between the two choices. One is to continue treatment and to see the son being "burned" every day, the other is to leave home to die. Finally, the mother only prayed and continued to treat her child.

Michael still remembers that day he only vomited and vomited until he was completely fresh. He also remembers that his mother still helped him step by step to clean the toilet, not to let him urinate in the bottle, even though his brother was blistering all over and had to cover the bandage from head to toe."I am lucky because all I do is lie there and suffer the pain. My mother is the unfortunate person. She has to watch me suffer all difficulties. She has to torment every day with His choice, injecting the experimental drug into his child - the drug killed all other children who have tried it , " Michael said.

Michael and his mother always dreamed of someday returning home together. Michael can run and play like every other kid."It seems so far away, but in the end it became a reality. At the age of six, I survived to return , " the boy said.

Although he was fortunate to be at home with his family, doctors said Michael did not have much hope for the future. They said that Michael would not be able to go to school, could not play sports. The boy can only stay indoors. If Michael does these things, it's a miracle.

It seems that Michael has retorted his fate. He wanted to live like normal children and especially wanted to play baseball once in America. Miraculously, Michael did both. He played baseball in America at the age of 15.

Michael and his wife.(Photo: Supplied).

Later joining the Australian baseball team, Michael took the number 24 to commemorate the children who died in the past during the drug test with him. At the age of 12, Michael had his first heart attack, 19 years old, a second heart attack that caused him to suffer a farewell to his sports career.

Back in Australia, Michael was an employee at a company. At 23, he is the nation's youngest manager for one of the world's largest companies. He manages 600 employees, 120 banks. Soon after, he chose to leave the company and begin his journey to become a speaker. Michael went to Haiti to set up a school and an orphanage. He often made his speech there. Michael even released an autobiography."It is a privilege to help me repay my life," the boy said.

The process of childhood treatment led Michael to carry on all kinds of illnesses, his immune system was inhibited so he was constantly sick. Seven years ago, Michael contracted meningitis and had fluid in his brain, and was later diagnosed with paralysis of peripheral nerves VII. Last year, the doctor checked and found that he had four tumors in his throat, three of which had surgery and one could not be completely removed."After the surgery, I might lose my voice, but it doesn't hurt me. I will live my life until the last moment," Michael said.

Currently, Michael is one of Australia's most loved speakers. He also often goes to the hospital to talk to patients with the same disease as himself, encouraging them to have more faith in life. Every day passes, Michael considers it a gift and appreciates it. He liked the saying the most and made it his life's maxim "Everybody dies but not everybody lives".