At the end of Jan 2015 Stephen had just nicely passed basic training in the Royal Navy when he was taken into hospital for stomach cramps. Whilst having tests and scans to find the problem it became apparent that there was a lump on his left kidney. Over the next month Stephen had further tests and scans including a biopsy. After a few weeks of waiting for results, Stephen was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer. It was determined that chemotherapy would be the first treatment to try which we started in the Royal Marsden in London due to him being based in Portsmouth.
    However due to the distance from home we were then transferred to the Teenage Cancer Ward at St James Hospital in Leeds for the rest of his treatment.
  After 3 cycles of chemotherapy, Stephen's scan wasn't showing the results the doctors were expecting to see so another biopsy was done. From this the doctors decided the next course of action was tablets, which Stephen started in July.
After 12 weeks (now September), Stephen had another scan to check on progress, at which time the results came back in our favor. However, after a further 8 weeks and Stephen starting to feel unwell, another scan was done which sadly came back negative . From the start of December Stephen was trying different tablets to find the right treatment, but was still getting worse as time went by.
   January 2016 Stephen was taken into hospital feeling very ill. Sadly 4 days later Stephen lost his battle and passed away peacefully in his sleep.
  Throughout Stephens battle, the nurses and staff on the Teenage Cancer Ward were very professional, kind, and supportive. They treat us we great dignity and compassion and always made us welcome. The ward was great, it was almost a homely feeling when were there even though we knew every one that was there were all suffering with Cancer. Without them, Stephen would not have had the fight and positive approach he had to battle his disease.
  The ward is supported by The Teenage Cancer Trust who raise money to make the ward almost home from home, by means of buying computers, game stations, dvd's and other things that a young adult would have in there day to day lives. But above all they also fund beds, essential equipment and in some cases the nurses for the patients.

  Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for your kind donation.