But his parents, Bobby Coster and Lisa Robertson, were told curative options had run out and that the family was \u201cliving on borrowed time\u201d.<\/p>\n
A rare chromosome mutation made Connor\u2019s cancer especially aggressive and hard to treat. <\/p>\n
He underwent CAR T-cell therapy in Melbourne, Australia, in what initially seemed a positive turn in his treatment, but not long after, doctors discovered his blood counts weren\u2019t recovering. <\/p>\n
Further investigation revealed he had developed therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a serious blood disorder caused by previous cancer treatment.<\/p>\n
Despite constant pain and setbacks, Connor\u2019s family said he remained loving, positive and full of heart.<\/p>\n
After four years of bravely battling, Connor died on August 13.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing that Connor has wanted for the last four years is just to live, and that was true right up until the end. He wanted to shed his light on the world and experience it all,\u201d Robertson said.<\/p>\n
Connor was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma in Christchurch at age 4. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
She described him as a boy who loved people deeply. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe loved his friends, he loved his family. He just loved being able to put a smile on anybody\u2019s face,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cEven though he was feeling pretty rotten near the end, he got pretty sick one day and said to Bobby, \u2018Are you okay, Daddy?\u2019 and Bobby said, \u2018Yeah, I\u2019m okay babe, are you?\u2019 Right up until the end, he was very much caring and thinking about others and other people\u2019s feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n