Picture: Tommy Edwards along with his dad and mom, Jo and Chris. Credit score: ICR/John Angerson
For the reason that day he was born, Tommy has been like a nuclear reactor, simply filled with vitality. After we’d choose him up from college, he’d virtually knock us over from working out to fulfill us.
Tommy was hardly in poor health. If his brothers obtained a chilly, they’d be poorly for a few days. However Tommy would simply lie down for an hour after which be again to regular.
It was the Easter holidays after we first seen a couple of little indicators that one thing wasn’t fairly proper. For 2 weeks Tommy was subdued, sitting indoors watching cartoons greater than regular. He was pale and had some bruises on his shins that wouldn’t go away. He was additionally waking up with bits of blood round his nostril, like little nostril bleeds.
We thought it was only a bug, so on the finish of the vacations he went again to high school. The subsequent day his instructor known as my spouse, Jo, as they seen he wasn’t his regular self. Jo was wanting on-line and got here throughout the signs of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a sort of blood most cancers. They appeared like Tommy’s signs, however I couldn’t consider that it was that.
Tommy stated, ‘Don’t cry Mummy, I’m going to be advantageous’
We picked Tommy up from college and went to the GP. We have been despatched straight to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and have been there for a lot of the day. It was through the coronavirus pandemic, and just one dad or mum might go in at a time, so I used to be within the automobile park with our different two sons.
Jo phoned asking me to come back into the hospital. The physician stated they didn’t know for positive, however they thought it was leukaemia. Jo was crying and I felt like somebody had punched me within the abdomen. However Tommy stated, ‘Don’t cry Mummy, I’m going to be advantageous’ – which was heartwarming, but in addition actually upsetting on the identical time.
The times after that appeared to all merge collectively. Tommy was recognized with ALL and we obtained transferred to Birmingham Youngsters’s Hospital to start out therapy. We have been instructed that Tommy would want therapy for 3 years.
Picture: Tommy Edwards along with his brothers, George and Henry. Credit score: Jo Edwards
It was psychologically very laborious
We needed to clarify it to our different sons. Henry was too younger to grasp, however George, the eldest, might and we have been open with him from the beginning. He requested us whether or not Tommy might die, and we needed to be trustworthy and say sure.
The primary couple of months have been psychologically very laborious for us. Tommy was an in-patient for the primary month. The coronavirus restrictions on guests meant we couldn’t all be collectively, which made it very powerful.
Tommy began on steroids, obtained a central line fitted after which began receiving a sort of chemotherapy known as vincristine intravenously. The steroids made him placed on plenty of weight – he couldn’t stroll correctly and his again harm.
A number of the little issues have been the toughest. Tommy wouldn’t have his drugs and it took two to a few hours each morning and each night time to get syringes of drugs into him. He didn’t like thumb pricks or the cannula.
Round six months into therapy, Tommy misplaced all his hair, which he discovered actually laborious. So, George, Henry and I shaved our heads too. Tommy nonetheless hates having his hair minimize now.
I couldn’t be prouder of how he’s handled it
For the reason that preliminary therapy, Tommy now has upkeep therapies, together with each day drugs, month-to-month steroids and chemotherapy, and common lumbar punctures. He’s responded nicely and in 2024, he’ll be ending therapy. He desires a limo dwelling from hospital and a celebration with all his associates to rejoice. It has been three years of therapy and upheaval, and I couldn’t be prouder of how he’s handled all of it.
As soon as Tommy finishes his steroids, the pains and backache ought to fade. There’s no cause that he shouldn’t go on to guide a traditional life. I keep in mind a couple of weeks into Tommy’s therapy asking the oncology nurse whether or not you ever get to some extent once you chill out and never fear about it. Possibly we by no means will, however now it feels extra like there’s a path to a traditional life.
Picture: Tommy Edwards along with his brother Henry. Credit score: Jo Edwards
We wanted one thing optimistic to concentrate on
I used to be in hospital with Tommy and Jo despatched me a hyperlink to a newspaper article concerning the work of Professor Sir Mel Greaves at The Institute of Most cancers Analysis (ICR). Sir Mel has spent many years researching why youngsters develop leukaemia and what may be performed to cease it. It’s advanced, however one key factor is the shortage of publicity to an infection for younger youngsters, so their immune system isn’t primed. It rang numerous bells for us with Tommy.
I went onto the ICR’s web site and emailed Sir Mel. I used to be pleasantly shocked he replied, and it went from there. Mel and his workforce are wanting on the thought of getting one thing like a probiotic drink that might prime the immune system to cease this taking place to youngsters. I assumed, ‘Wouldn’t that be good?’
Jo and I talked about needing one thing optimistic to concentrate on. We determined to arrange a charity known as Forestall ALL, with the thought of funding analysis into the situation and supporting different households going through an ALL analysis.
Picture: Tommy Edwards. Credit score: ICR/John Angerson
Each little one ought to get a great begin in life
Having the charity means we may give one thing again. We’re serving to to fund Sir Mel and his workforce’s analysis to raised perceive ALL and develop remedies which can be higher and kinder for youngsters with most cancers sooner or later. We additionally help youngsters going by way of therapy by shopping for toys and treats for them.
We’re very fortunate Tommy’s had the good remedies he’s had. After I was a toddler, the percentages of survival and the medicines and the remedies have been nowhere close to what they’re now.
It’s necessary to us to attempt to do our bit to assist households like ours. We have to cease different youngsters from having to undergo this. Not all people will get the privilege of rising outdated, however each little one ought to get an opportunity to have a great begin in life.
We’re world-leaders within the examine of most cancers in youngsters, youngsters and younger adults and have made the massive strides over the previous decade in enhancing therapy choices for youngsters with most cancers.
Along with your assist, we are able to make the hope of safer, kinder and more practical remedies a actuality for extra youngsters with most cancers.
Your ongoing help will assist us to fund life-saving analysis – in order that extra youngsters with most cancers are cured, extra kindly.
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