Noah Johnson: Remarkable 12-year-old rings bell to mark end of cancer battle

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Shannon HamptonThe West Australian
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Noah Johnson rings the bell at PCH.
Camera IconNoah Johnson rings the bell at PCH. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

It has been 281 days since Noah Johnson was told he had cancer.

He has endured 31 rounds of radiation. Fourteen rounds of chemotherapy. And countless moments of darkness.

But yesterday, the 12-year-old was given one very big reason to smile.

He was officially declared cancer free.

The boy whose face captured the hearts of the nation when he told his moving story in The West Australian ahead of Telethon, was finally able to ring the bell on Perth Children’s Hospital’s oncology ward to mark the end of his treatment.

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It was a moment Noah’s family had been longing for since they were told in March he had ewing sarcoma, one of the most common forms of childhood bone cancer.

Family, friends and medical staff watched on and broke into applause as he was wheeled down the hospital corridor to mark the milestone after one final procedure.

Noah got a hug and a kiss from his mum before he declared: “I can swim in one week.”

Having not been able to take part in his favourite pastime in the nine months since he was diagnosed, Noah said he planned to spend the school holidays in the pool.

Noah Johnson (right), 12, was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in March this year.
Camera IconNoah Johnson (right), 12, was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in March this year. Credit: Unknown/Supplied

At one point, he was overwhelmed by emotions and buried his face in his hands, crying as he realised the significance of the moment.

“Noah is now in remission, so no more cancer,” mum Kristy Johnson said.

“It means he’s able to be somewhat of a normal child again and he gets to enjoy life rather than worrying about going in and out of hospital.

“(He’ll now have) a bit of normality, going back to school, being able to be a child. Spending time as a family, we’ve missed that opportunity being in here for quite a lot of the year.”

Camera IconNoah Johnson, 12, captured the hearts of a country after telling his story ahead of Telethon. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

Ms Johnson said knowing her son doesn’t have to return to hospital for treatment for some time gave her a chance to “breathe in a sense”.

“But it’s excitement at the same time because it’s the end of an era. He doesn’t have to come in, he doesn’t have to endure radiation,” she said.

When The West published Noah’s story on the front page in October, it was met with a wave of emotion, including from Sunrise host Natalie Barr, who broke down in tears on the live Telethon broadcast talking about his situation.

Noah became one of the stars of the show, hanging out with celebrities such as Ant Middleton and signing autographs.

And in a twist — which shows how fast life can change — a healthy Noah was photographed at last year’s Telethon with 2023 star Harrison Lee Carthew, only to find himself in the middle of his own health battle months later.

Telling his story, Noah and his parents detailed how he had started to complain of a sore shoulder but at first put it down to not wanting to go to bed or hurting himself on the monkey bars.

Ms Johnson opened up about the family’s lowest moments, including when Noah had told her: “I don’t want you to get sad Mummy, but sometimes I think it would be easier if I died.”

Camera IconNoah Johnson, 12, was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in March this year. He has undergone 31 rounds of intense radiation treatment leaving him with third degree burns on his back. Credit: Unknown/Supplied

At his worst, Noah’s weight dropped to just 35kg and he had grown so weak and lethargic that he needed to use a wheelchair.

The radiation also left him at one stage with a third-degree burn in the middle of his back the size of a small plate, which made it painful to move. In Noah’s words, it was a “living nightmare”.

At the hospital on Thursday, his stepfather, Adam Jenkins, said the family had received dozens of calls saying how much the 12-year-old’s story had touched them.

He said Noah being in remission was the “best Christmas gift we could have”.

“It was good to put a closing statement on it and finish off the year and start 2025 in a lot more positive light,” Mr Jenkins said.

PCH registered nurse Emmanuel Semblante said he was glad to have played a part in Noah’s journey back to health.

Camera IconNoah with his Mum Kristy. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian

“Seeing the kids during the journey ... it’s really good to be part of their life in a short amount of time, through the ups and downs and the challenges, which Noah has gone through really well,” he said.

“It makes the job worth it. And as a kid, no one wants to through what he’s gone through, let alone anyone else.”

Mr Semblante said it was a touching moment to see Noah ring the bell.

“It was emotional to a point where, all of the hard days that Noah has gone through with the treatment — it’s been worth it. And to see him cry after ringing the bell, he knows he’s done it,” he said.

“I think it will give him confidence knowing that if he can get through this he can get through anything in his life.”

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