Harrison (Harri) was diognosed with osteosarcoma in January 2018. After a 2 year battle including a leg amputation and frequent chemotherapy, Harri has been given a terminal diognosis. He is determined to complete a bucket list of things he always wished to do. unfortunatley Harri has limited time and resources to do this and needs your help to complete his last wishes. Harri is the most posititve and resiliant 15 year old our family has ever known and after a heroic fight we ask you to give anything you can to support him in this. We would be eternally grateful to you for allowing us to create the lasting memories with him as a family.

Harrison Torr’s cancer journey …… please read

Harri is 15 years old. He has been bravely fighting a cancer diagnosis since 2018. Following x-rays in January 2018 for a presumed broken ankle he was finally diagnosed with an osteosarcoma in April 2018. He started gruelling chemotherapy on 15th May, 2018, travelling to Leeds General Infirmary for 3 weeks of intensive treatment and then 2 weeks off. This lasted for over 30 weeks. There were days the side-effects and infections were so bad – especially the mucositis in his mouth - but he never stopped smiling, entertaining the staff and throwing himself into everything the play worker’s provided to break up the days – including decorating his amputation stump as a dinosaur/shark/reindeer! The osteosarcoma had also spread to his lungs and he underwent further surgery to remove 21 nodes.

He has made many friends in hospital and it has been heart-breaking that some are no longer here for him to spend time with. He has had to find maturity far beyond his years to cope with the bereavement around him on the cancer ward.

Following the delay in initial treatment and to try and halt the aggressive cancer, he underwent a below knee amputation at Birmingham Orthopaedic Hospital in June 2018, as the leg could not be saved. At least the pain he had been experiencing from his ankle had been taken away and he had a new challenge – to learn to walk again.

After physio to use a prosthetic he threw himself into physical activity again – joining a disability swimming club and promoting inclusion for a local activity centre in Yorkshire becoming their amputee ambassador and undertaking a variety of activities including the high ropes course! His Instagram post one_foot_in_the_grave telling us “Nothing is not doable even if you have a prosthetic or other disability! And “It’s not a disability it’s a possibility” He has never complained or asked “Why me?”

He visited a local school to talk and share his experience, talking about his cancer, highlighting symptoms and inspiring others. He gave a talk to doctors and healthcare professionals on “shared care” to help shape future treatment for children.

Devastatingly, further scans in May this year revealed 3 more tumours had grown in the lungs and despite another operation; one is inoperable as it sits on the aorta. He has been given a life-limiting diagnosis and wishes to fill it with a bucket list of incredible things to do.

His courageous fight is visually remembered in the Beads of Courage he is given after undertaking each procedure - every blood test, chemo treatment, operation, I.V. line, each milestone achieved and courageous attitude – he has so far received over 750 of them! WOW. He has simply been an INSPIRATION to so many.

If love could save him he would live forever. He has never given up the fight, has conducted himself with more courage, positivity and enthusiasm for a life worth fighting for than anyone we know.

There will be a big Harri shaped hole in our lives forever, but we want to fill it with all the special memories he will be making, so his family and friends who have supported him along the way can draw on his strength and bravery and he will always sit firmly in our thoughts and remain in our futures forever.

Harri would like to add special thanks to the team at Leeds Children's Hospital (especially wards 33 & 42) and all staff at Sykes Street Prosthetic Clinic, the support you have given Harri throughout his journey will never be forgotten by him or his family. We are eternally grateful.

Thank you for reading Harri’s story! Any contribution to his bucket list would be greatly appreciated by him and all of his family :)