Imagine a young boy of 11 whose smile could light up a room, whose manners define polite and who is so gentle he apologises after EVERY tackle he puts in on a football/rugby pitch. This boy was already remarkable, having been diagnosed with Leukaemia at the age of three and having bravely battled through a gruelling three and a half years of chemotherapy. By 11, he had been off treatment for four and a half years and had grown into a strong, clever and resilient boy. He loved playing football for Guiseley Greens and was looking forward to the future and starting high school. From looking at him no one would have known what he had already been through. What do you think he asked for for Christmas 2017? Certainly not to be diagnosed with cancer for a second time. This is what happened to Seb Murphy from Guiseley. Seb Murphy and his family received the devastating news that his leukaemia had returned on 23 December 2017 and Seb was admitted to the Leeds General Infirmary to commence an intensive course of chemotherapy on Boxing Day. Seb has lived at the Leeds General Infirmary for the majority of 2018 so far. That’s over 100 nights in hospital in unfamiliar surroundings, missing his friends and family. ……..And you thought your day was tough?

Since his relapse, things have not gone smoothly for Seb. Seb’s leukaemia became resistant to standard chemotherapy, meaning he has had to undergo more novel immunotherapy treatment to try to get him into remission. In April he had a bone marrow transplant as the medics have said that this is his best chance of cure. Prior to his transplant, Seb had to undergo intensive chemotherapy and full body radiotherapy. He will have to live with the serious co-lateral damage caused to his organs by this treatment for the rest of his life. Following his transplant, Seb was in isolation on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the LGI for the following seven weeks. To reduce the risk of infection, he was not allowed any visitors under the age of 12. This ruled out his brother and sister and all of his school friends from visiting. Even after he returns home he will need to remain in relative isolation for the following couple of months or so.

Seb is 11. You know, that age when what you wear and how you look starts to matter. He has lost his hair and his body has changed. Let’s not forget he has been through this once already. Everything about this screams “not fair”.

Seb is a fighter and he has approached this fight with a resolve and determination most adults would struggle with. The side effects of the chemotherapy and radiotherapy are brutal – Seb has struggled with vomiting, diarrhoea, ulcers, bleeding, infections, daily pain and nausea. Since Christmas he has had countless life-saving transfusions of red blood cells and platelets. He has had over 10 surgical procedures under general anaesthetic. He has to take more than 8 different medicines a day. He was fed intravenously for a period of around 6 weeks as he has been too sick to eat or drink anything. More recently ha has had a nasogastric tube fitted and this is being used to give him liquid food and water and his oral medicines. It is likely to be several weeks before his appetite returns and he will be able to eat enough to sustain his weight. Seb really is having to dig deep to find the strength to get through these intense physical and emotional challenges. All of this and he never compromises on his positive attitude and wonderful personality.

Seb is not the only one whose life was turned upside down when his cancer returned. His parents (Helen and Ben) have had to take time off work to care for Seb. Because Seb cannot be left unsupervised in hospital, they have spent alternate nights in the Leeds General Infirmary trying to sleep through all of the hustle and bustle of a high-dependency hospital ward and an uncomfortable temporary bed. The cumulative effect of having to watch their precious son suffer the horrendous side effects of cancer and the drugs used to treat it, together with the sleep deprivation and the constant worry and fear about what the future holds inevitably have taken their toll. Then there is Lexie and James. They have missed their big brother terribly. Home life has just not been the same without their big brother.

His family have been asked so many times how people can help and support Seb through this ordeal. The aim of this site is very simple. We think the Murphy family deserve something to look forward to when Seb has completed all his treatment and is fully recovered (which is likely to be at least another 6 to 9 months away yet). Hopefully this will give Seb a goal and help him get through the tough days which he faces. We want to send them to Disneyland Paris for the holiday of a lifetime. If any family deserves this, they do!! Pls help us in any way you can.

If you can't donate please go to the following link to see if you can help in other ways We delete blood cancer.

Your support means the world to Seb and all of us supporting him. For more info & updates go to #keepsebsmiling and Keep Seb Smiling