Finley-Jack’s Story 

It’s true what they say, ‘Be kind always, because everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about”. This is a battle we are now able and willing to share, a battle we are still fighting but winning thanks to the Doctors and Nurses at Bath RUH and Bristol Children’ Hospital for the care they have given our little boy Finley-Jack, 9 years old.  

In Late November 2022 Finley began complaining of tiredness and having a headache. As a parent you notice when it’s an unusual kind of ill, Finley is hardly ever ill. Due to this we kept him off school followed by taking him to the Doctors before our Adventure to Lapland the following week. The Doctor reassured us there was nothing wrong, he didn’t have scarlet fever and was safe to travel. Day 2 in Lapland Finley had a nosebleed and complaining that the back of his arm was hurting him, I removed his top to notice a dark purple bruise on his arm. Lee and I thought he had hurt himself whilst playing in the Snow.   

After returning to the UK Finley began showing different symptoms a red pin prick rash on both legs, Finley started to feel dizzy and pale looking, and a purple rash on his shoulder. We tested the rash with a glass to see if it would disappear, it didn’t. Panic quickly set in!! 8pm on the 17th December after an agonising wait to see a Doctor at the RUH in Bath Finley-Jack was taken to a cubicle for examination. 

After receiving Finley’s blood test results the Paediatrician was concerned on the number of immature cells or Leukaemia cells, but we had to wait for the results.  Early hours of Sunday Morning, after another agonising wait the Children’s oncology Consultant arrived on the ward to confirm that Finley-Jack had Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia (ALL). 

In that moment I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

There were so many questions I needed and wanted answers to, like, how long has he had it? How long does he have left to live? Why didn’t the GP pick it up? What stage is it at?   The Paediatrician reassured me that they would do everything they could to cure him, but he couldn’t tell me if he would survive or not.  That evening he was transferred to Bristol by 8am the next morning the Oncology team arrived to confirm what was going to happen, a bone marrow lumbar puncture and chemotherapy and he would need a port-a-cath fitted (Finley calls it Porty). 

 I couldn’t believe any of this was happening, it felt like a nightmare we couldn’t wake up from. Chemotherapy began right away and blood tests daily. We continued his treatment for 3 ½ weeks including spending Christmas Day. 

We eventually arrived home in the middle of January to continue his treatment at Bath for the months ahead.  In March we finally got the news we had been waiting for, FINLEY-JACK WAS IN REMISSION. Treatment will continue for 2 years but we are in Summer and Finley is starting to slowly return to School and meeting up with his two best friends, even though it’s still a long way to go we celebrate these smalls steps in the right direction. 

 Finley-Jack has been an absolute soldier through all of this and we as a family couldn’t be prouder. 

This is why I will be climbing Pen y Fan the highest peak in South Wales, situated in Brecon Beacons National Park (886 metres (2,907 ft) with friends in September to raise awareness for ALL and raise funds for the RUHX for the Children’s Ward and Oncology team to help improve and design a new children’s play area/ playroom.  

We would appreciate your support; every little helps a lot.  

RUHX (formerly The Forever Friends Appeal) is the official NHS charity of the Royal United Hospitals Bath. We’re here to make our place healthier, happier and stronger for the future. And we do that by supporting the extra extraordinary work that leads to exceptional care for everyone.