What began as a terrifying diagnosis and felt like a never-ending nightmare for five-year-old Slater Breckon has transformed into a remarkable story of courage, resilience and hope — one that has now led to the publication of his very own children’s book.
The youngster, known as ‘Moo’, was diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia just days after his fifth birthday in 2023.
The rare and life-threatening condition stops the bone marrow from producing enough new blood cells, requiring the patient to undergo chemotherapy treatments and, often, a stem cell transplant.
From the day of his diagnosis, Moo’s life — and his family’s — changed forever.
Moo’s mother, Doone Breckon, remembers it as a tragic turn of events.
“It was a very tragic turn of events for us and our little family. Nothing you ever want to experience in a lifetime,” she said.
“Trying to explain it to a five-year-old was one of the hardest things we’ve ever done.”
The Breckon family — Doone, her husband Dylan, Moo, and youngest daughter Frankie — has deep roots in the Clermont community.
Dylan works at the Glencore coal mine, while Doone recently opened her own salon, Doonez Hair Studio.
Moo attends St Joseph’s Catholic School, just like his dad once did, and Frankie lights up Clermont Kindy with her ever-changing costumes.
Following his diagnosis, the family was thrust into a world of doctors’ appointments, hospital visits and an urgent search for a bone marrow donor.
Thanks to little Moo’s bravery, something unexpected was born: a children’s book.
“Moo felt like he was the only one going through this,” Doone said.
“We didn’t know any other families, and we stayed off Google to avoid the worst. Moo wanted to help other kids know they’re not alone.”
From this desire, Doone had an idea — to collaborate with her long-time friend and children’s author, Samantha Comiskey, known to her readers as Aunty Sam.
Together, the pair created a rhyming picture book, Cowboy Moo, which turns Moo’s medical journey into an ‘eight-second bull ride’.
“Slater always wanted to be a cowboy,” Doone said.
“He looked up to PBR stars like Mitchell Power and Jarred Borghero. At daycare, he’d tell his teacher, ‘My name is Moo Moo Cowboy Breckon!’ and it just stuck.”
Samantha reflected on the writing process, saying the bull ride became the perfect metaphor for the ups and downs of Moo’s battle.
“There are so many rounds when you go through illness,” she said.
“It’s just like a sport in a sense. It can be unpredictable, tough, and you have to hold on tight. My aim was to make Moo’s experience relatable and uplifting for other kids in hospital beds.”
Samantha explained she wanted to capture the reality of Moo’s experience — from central lines to the fear of the unknown.
“I wanted it to be something other kids could see and say, ‘Hey, that looks like the room I stayed in,’ or ‘That kid gets what I’m feeling,’” she said.
“We also added a fact sheet about severe aplastic anaemia in the back of the book to raise awareness about the rare illness, which often goes unrecognised.”
Doone explained that when Moo was diagnosed, no one around them had ever heard of the condition.
“It’s not cancer, but it’s treated like it, and it’s horrendous,” she said.
“We wanted to show other families there’s still hope.”
Throughout Moo’s battle, Little Windmills: The Country Kids Charity supported the Breckons by offering fuel and grocery vouchers, regular check-ins and continued assistance with travel, even two years later.
“They have been absolutely incredible,” Doone said.
“It’s foundations like this that take financial pressure off your mind so you can focus on the fight.”
Now, with his newly published children’s book, Moo is giving back.
Proceeds from the book are being donated to Little Windmills to help other rural kids going through tough times.
“We’re currently selling the books through Moo’s Cowboy Moo Facebook page, and soon we’ll have an online shop,” Doone said.
“Moo is personally signing and sending them out himself. He’s so proud.”
Now stronger and back on the footy field with his mates, Moo is full of life and gratitude.
“It’s okay to be scared of the unknown. Keep fighting, try your best, and never give up,” Moo said.
“It’s okay to cry in hard times. Thanks to Doc Dave, my German donor, the nurses, family and friends for everything.”
His recent ‘rebirth day’ marked two years post-transplant.
“It was a very special day,” Doone said.
“It makes you appreciate how far he’s come. Dylan and I are so proud of him.”
Cowboy Moo is available for purchase via the Cowboy Moo Facebook page, with proceeds going to Little Windmills: The Country Kids Charity.
