Why We’re Fundraising for Cure Leukaemia – Jude’s Story 💙

Our son Jude was just 7 years old when our world changed. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) — a type of blood cancer. From the moment you hear those words, your life becomes a series of medical terms, treatment protocols, and percentages. But more than anything, it becomes a fight — one you never imagined you’d have to face.

At first, Jude was placed on the lowest risk chemotherapy path. We were told he had a high chance of being cured. But just days in, that hope started to unravel. His treatment was quickly escalated — his leukaemia wasn’t responding as expected. His cancer levels weren’t going down. In fact, they were going up.

By week 8, we were hit with another devastating blow: Jude was an induction failure. This meant the chemotherapy hadn’t done its job, and the chances of reaching remission were rapidly slipping away. Still, we continued — every day hoping the next test would bring better news.

At week 16, the results confirmed our fears: Jude still wasn’t in remission. It was soul-crushing. But we weren’t giving up. We turned to CAR T-cell therapy, a treatment that gave us new hope.

Jude underwent a four-hour procedure where his blood was filtered to collect T-cells — the body’s fighter cells. These were sent to a lab in the USA to be genetically modified to attack the B-cells where his cancer lived. When they were ready, Jude was admitted to Manchester Children’s Hospital for a six-week stay in isolation. His immune system was wiped out with intense chemotherapy to make room for the new, modified cells.

But again, our hopes were dashed. A few weeks after infusion, we were told CAR T wouldn’t be his cure. It felt like the ground disappeared from beneath us. We were of running out of time & options, an extremely dark place to be in as a parent.

Then came a choice that no parent should ever face: a bone marrow transplant, with our daughter Lily, only 10 years old at the time, as the donor. She was a 100% match, a chance of 3/10. But the thought of putting her through the pain and risk, not knowing if it would work, was agonising. Still, it was her decision. And she was determined to save her brother’s life.

Jude had to endure more chemotherapy and full-body radiotherapy to prepare his body. Lily went through daily injections to boost her cell count. The transplant took place at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, followed by five long weeks in isolation over Christmas and New Year. He was so ill, at times, but got through the intense treatment.

In January 2021, Jude was discharged. Just two weeks later, we were back in hospital. Tests showed early mixed chimerism — Jude’s body was a mix of his own cells and Lily’s. It wasn’t the full donor takeover we needed. He was taken off immunosuppressants to allow Lily’s cells to take over and fight. Finally, after more uncertainty, the words we’d been waiting to hear arrived:

“Jude is in remission.”

The relief was indescribable. The black cloud had lifted. We had hope again.

But six months later — our worst nightmare came true. Jude relapsed. The cancer was back.

This time, we were out of options. Every available treatment had been tried. As parents, we were consumed by fear and desperation. We searched the globe for trials, hope, anything.

Then, a miracle: Jude qualified for a clinical trial , here in the U.K — a new type of CAR T-cell therapy, using Lily’s modified T-cells this time. But he was scheduled for October, and we were worried he wouldn’t make it that long.

Then, something we still don’t fully understand happened — a spot opened up, and Jude’s treatment was moved forward to September. We don’t know why or how, but that twist of fate saved his life.

He was admitted once again to Manchester Children’s Hospital, received more chemotherapy, and underwent the second CAR T-cell infusion.

This time, it worked.

It was a long and harrowing stay — 3 months, including a stint in ICU. But slowly, against the odds, Jude started to recover.

And now, as of today…

Jude is 3 years, 8 months, and 2 days in remission.

A clinical trial saved our son.

That’s why we’re raising funds for Cure Leukaemia — to give more children like Jude a second chance. Cure Leukaemia’s Aticus Program is working to bring life-saving trials to children who have run out of standard treatment options. The science is there. The treatments are there. What’s missing is the funding.

We’ve seen the difference these trials make — not just in extending lives, but in saving them. We’ve also seen the pain of families who didn’t get that chance. We want to change that.

Help us fund hope. Help us fund life. Help us ensure that no child is left without options.

Donate today and be part of the cure. 💙

This is just a glimpse of treatment, Jude endured so much more, operations, to help prevent infections, cells taken to hopefully one day, enable him to have children, hundreds of platelet/blood infusions & injections, the list goes on and on!.