Story
6 months ago a close friends son was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma (liver cancer) there are approx. 8 cases a year of this type in the UK, so it is fairly rare. He was diagnosed in August 2023 at 4 months old, after he was taken to the walk in center at Derby Royal, the only “sign” they had that something wasn’t quite right was he threw up 3 x in 24 hrs. They went to the walk-in centre assuming he just had reflux, they would be given baby Gaviscon and they would be on their merry way… however they did an ultrasound on his stomach after feeling something was there, they sent those results to Notts QMC and within a few hours we were admitted there. One of the senior consultants saw him that evening, then within the first week they’d done MRIs, Biopsies and fitted him with a central line (goes into his chest under the nipple, up to his neck and down into his heart) so they could administer drugs etc. without constantly pricking him with needles. He was also admitted onto the E39 paediatric Oncology ward at QMC. The following day they had the “official” diagnosis from the biopsies and they’d decided on what treatment plan he needed, 10 days after they took him into the walk in centre at the start, he started chemotherapy.
His tumour was in two parts, the main bit is a 10cm (round) lump hanging off his liver, the secondary part is within one of the arteries within his liver. He has been on a combination of 3 different types of chemotherapy drugs to target both of these sites. He’s now had 4.5 rounds of chemotherapy, and is recovering from surgery to remove the tumour and the effected portion of his liver, his operation was at Birmingham Children’s Hospital as they’re the country’s paediatric liver specialists. He has two further rounds to get through.
Both the boys parents have been off work caring for their son since August and have been supported by this amazing charity. The longest they have had out of hospital in the last 6 months is 1 week, and, they have been admitted 5 times in one week on separate occasions.
Because of the chemotherapy his immune system is very weak and is susceptible to falling ill from even the bacteria in his own mouth!
My colleague, Rob and I are running an offroad unsupported marathon in the mountains to try and raise £3,000 for the charity.