Dear Friends, Family, and the wider JustGiving Community. Thank you for taking the time to read this page. My family and I are facing an unimaginable challenge as we navigate the journey of our young child who has recently been diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), a potentially life-threatening cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Our lives were turned upside down on February 12th, 2025, a day that brought pain beyond our wildest imagination.

On that fateful day, our child went to school just like any other day. Within hours, we received a call from school indicating that something was not right. This led us to visit the NHS Urgent Care Centre and then to A&E at Whiston Hospital, culminating in a blue light transfer to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. The urgency of the situation was palpable; our child required immediate medical attention due to dangerously low platelet counts.

Within 24 hours of arriving at Alder Hey, we learned that the initial treatment period would last approximately 108 weeks—over two years of relentless treatment ahead of us. As I write this now, nine weeks have passed since that day filled with uncertainty and fear. During this time, our child has undergone numerous procedures including central line fittings, biopsies, lumbar punctures, chemotherapy sessions, and countless blood tests.

The emotional toll on our family has been immense. As parents, we instinctively want to protect our children from harm; however, with Leukaemia, there is little we can do but support them through their pain and fear. It is heartbreaking to witness their struggle while feeling utterly powerless.

Despite these challenges, our child has shown incredible bravery and resilience throughout this ordeal. There are moments filled with pain and anxiety when they simply wish to return home; yet they remain surrounded by loving family members who will support them every step of the way.

We have decided to set up this JustGiving page in April 2025, approximately nine weeks after Lucas's diagnosis as many have expressed a desire to help during this difficult time. Your contributions will allow us to focus entirely on what matters most—our child's health and recovery.

The funds raised will cover essential costs such as travel expenses for hospital visits and extended stays for food and drink during treatment periods. Additionally, due to the impact that Lucas’s treatment has had on his body strength and mobility, we need to make necessary adaptations in our home for better accessibility as treatment progresses; including converting our bathroom into a wet room which will significantly ease daily routines while minimizing infection risks. It is imperative when showering Lucas to keep both his ‘central lines’ and ‘central lines dressings’ dry. We are currently showering Lucas on a shower chair that has been placed inside a small shower cubicle. We are manoeuvring around Lucas as best we can but it is without question causing Lucas a degree of anxiety each and every time that he needs to be showered. We just need to create the extra space that a wet room would provide.

As we anticipate potential reductions in household income due to ongoing treatments requiring constant parental presence at home or hospital settings from August 2025 through March 2027, your support will help alleviate some financial burdens during this challenging journey.

We are immensely grateful for all the staff at Whiston Hospital and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital who provide exceptional care during these trying times. We also appreciate organisations like Young Lives vs Cancer, The Joshua Tree, Team Verrico and the Owen McVeigh Foundation for their invaluable support.

Any assistance you can offer would mean the world to us as we face these challenges together as a family. We promise to keep you updated on our journey as much as possible with heartfelt thanks, Michael, Dominique, Nathan & Lucas x