"Like a bolt out of the blue": Ray Hadley shares sad family news
Veteran broadcaster Ray Hadley has shared heartbreaking news about his three-year-old granddaughter, Lola, who has been diagnosed with leukaemia.
In a deeply emotional video posted to Facebook, the 70-year-old former 2GB radio host revealed that Lola was diagnosed on January 6, describing the moment as "like a bolt out of the blue".
Having spent years supporting charity events as an auctioneer, Hadley is no stranger to the hardships families endure when faced with childhood illness. Now, he and his family are experiencing those challenges firsthand.
“The journey we’ve endured over the last seven weeks has been... I guess, in many parts, agonising, and in other parts, enlightening – enlightening because of the courage and bravery shared by my granddaughter, Lola,” Hadley said in the video.
The toddler faces a tough two-year battle ahead, undergoing intense treatment.
“It’s a two-year battle... this little baby girl has had a lumbar puncture yesterday, that’ll be her seventh, she’s had a biopsy and bone marrow six times all under general anaesthetic,” he explained.
Hadley went on to describe the physical toll on his granddaughter, who is receiving four chemotherapy treatments a week. “She’s got tubes coming out of her left, right and centre... they attacked the leukaemia and the tests came back a week ago which weren’t as good as we hoped, so now they’ve really doubled down,” he said.
As a grandfather of seven, Hadley is fully devoted to supporting Lola through her fight. Reflecting on his retirement from radio late last year, he now believes the timing was meant to be: “I don’t think I believe in fate … but I think that something must have pre-empted my retirement so that I can do what I’m doing now in relation to my granddaughter and my family. Because if I was still working, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
Hadley announced his departure from 2GB on December 13, bringing a 43-year career to a close. With his daughter and son-in-law balancing the demands of caring for three children, Hadley has stepped in to help bring some joy to Lola’s days.
“I was with her yesterday …. and she’s got this thing where she likes to trick me,” he said, recounting their playful interactions. “Her favourite thing is (to say) ‘Poppy, you’ve got a spider in your hair’ and I sort of brush my hair, and I say, ‘Where is it? Where is it? Get the spider out’ and then she laughs.
“I don’t know how she handles it, she’s only three.”
For now, Hadley remains focused on what matters most – his family, and ensuring Lola has all the love and support she needs in the fight ahead.
Images: Facebook