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A celebration of the life of a very courageous Beachlands boy who has lost his battle with a rare soft tissue cancer is happening today.
Hugo Donaldson passed away on Monday. He had his 12th birthday on February 18.
The Times has reported over the past year on Hugo’s brave battle with stage four alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer that only occurs in one to three New Zealand children each year.
Hugo’s Mum, Samantha Donaldson, posted on social media after he died on May 25.
“Our hearts are shattered and we have the most deepest immeasurable sadness in our souls,” she wrote.
“Our beautiful boy, who fought so hard, grew his angel wings in the early hours of this morning.
“You are so so loved Hugo by so many. You kept us all in fits of laughter right till the end.
“You are smart, funny, kind and incredibly special.
“The boy who made us parents. Our souls will be intertwined forever and we will see you again one day.
“We hope you have your own Lego room up there with infinite amounts to build buddy!
“We love you, you are at peace now xoxo,” Samantha wrote.
She and her husband and Hugo’s Dad, Aaron Donaldson, say the celebration of their eldest son’s life is at 2pm at Beachlands Baptist Church, 59 Third View Ave, on May 28.
“There is no dress code. Hugo’s friends young and old are welcome to dress in clothes that remind them of him,” they say.
The service will be live streamed at https://247.stream/rooms/hugodonaldson.
The Donaldson family, from left, Louis, mum Samantha, dad Aaron, and Hugo, tried everything, along with their extended families, friends and the wider community to seek medical treatment for the 12-year-old. Photo supplied Steph Killip
Hugo’s cancer battle was excruciating, and after nine rounds of high-dose chemotherapy and 28 sessions of radiation, he was initially declared cancer-free in August 2024.
Months later, he relapsed while still on maintenance therapy.
Aaron and Samantha then explored with New Zealand doctors all available curable options in this country, and Hugo was accepted into a CAR T-cell clinical trial at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.
To make the trip possible at the end of 2025 and the beginning of this year, the family made every effort possible to raise the $500,000 required, including a successful call for donations to an online Givealittle page which was supported by people from across east Auckland, New Zealand and further afield.
The Cleveland Clinic describes rhabdomyosarcoma as “a rare soft tissue cancer that typically affects children and teenagers but can also affect adults”.
“You can develop rhabdomyosarcoma anywhere in your body, but it usually affects muscles in your arms, legs, head and neck, and abdomen (belly).
“Oncologists can treat and sometimes cure rhabdomyosarcoma, but the condition can come back.
“Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is a condition that affects older children, teenagers and young adults.
“It typically develops in your arms, legs or trunk (torso). Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is aggressive, meaning it spreads quickly soon after it develops,” says the Cleveland Clinic.
- For earlier Times’ stories about Hugo Donaldson’s battle with cancer, read:
https://www.times.co.nz/art-entertainment/community-continues-to-rally-for-brave-hugo/
https://www.times.co.nz/lifestyle/treatment-fund-for-young-cancer-battler-grows-daily/
https://www.times.co.nz/news/brave-boys-second-battle-with-cancer/
