AJ was a 11 year old boy who has fought the last 4 years against all odds.
He had cardiac surgery to repair a hole and to try and reduce lung pressures. Sadly over the last 4 years deterioration in health resulted in AJ needing a lung transplant to survive and he was lucky enough to get this at Easter 2017.
Next he was hit with rejection then developed lung transplant side effect of cancer in his lungs and lymph nodes. (Lymphoma).
After thinking we were going to loose him he pulled round with treatment and got back his sparkle he had lost. Finally being able to run round with his cousins, return to school with his friends and enjoying being up in the air with a helicopter ride..bis smile returned.
But then he took a turn for the worst and his kidneys showed signs of failure..liver and spleen enlarged and a cough returned...fearing it was the cancer he once more entered hospital where the respiratory team worked tirelessly to find out what was wrong and help him..they discovered he had a condition (HLH) that attacked his organs & stripped his bone marrow leaving him with no defense to fight... on 29th october 2017 at 10.15am..AJ started to bleed within his lungs and sadly passed away leaving parent's family and friends heartbroken.
We would like to thank the teams at great north childrens hospital respiratory and oncology teams.. PICU and cardiac services at Freeman hospital by raising as much money as we can so they can continue their hard work and dedication to helping children fight these conditions.
Any amount great or small would be most gratefully appreciated and we hope to leave a memorial of such a brave young lad who fought to the bitter end... rip AJ Stephenson xxxx