2024 began as a perfectly normal year. Jack was five years old and had settled well into his first year of school – he loved swimming and going to soft play. One day, when I went to pick Jack up from school, I immediately noticed his slight limp and assumed he’d hurt himself while playing. The limp continued for a week, and while it didn't seem to bother him, I decided to take him to the GP.
The doctor told me Jack likely had a virus which was causing an irritable hip. A few days later, Jack got sick one night, and I grew concerned that he might have an infection. I took him back to the GP, who said it could be either a virus or an infection and advised me to give him Calpol.
The second week was when Jack's pain started. He began crying out at night, prompting me to take him to A&E. After a hip X-ray, the doctor reassured me that he was fine and advised me to give him regular paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Jack's diagnosis
That night, Jack screamed in pain. At 5 am, I called 111, and they advised me to return to A&E and request a blood test. Later that day, the blood test showed a very high C-reactive protein (CRP) level, so we took him to Bristol Children's Hospital.
Jack got admitted to the hospital, and the doctors told me that he might have a septic hip, even though he seemed fine. His X-rays and hip ultrasound showed no cause for concern. However, the next day, an abdominal ultrasound revealed a mass above his right kidney.
As Jack underwent numerous tests and scans, things progressed quickly over the next couple of weeks. On February 15, 2024, we received his official diagnosis: stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma. Our lives changed instantly.
Jack's treatment
Jack has undergone eight rounds of induction chemotherapy, a stem cell harvest, tumour resection surgery, high-dose chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and 12 sessions of radiotherapy.
Jack needs six months of immunotherapy. He’s responded very well to treatment so far, and his latest scans showed no evidence of active disease. His ability to bounce back from the lowest moments is amazing, and we couldn't be prouder of him. His diagnosis comes with a high risk of relapse, which looms over us like a dark cloud. Whenever Jack mentions having a tummy ache or sore legs, I can't help but jump to the worst conclusion. People often ask how I'm doing, and I always respond with, "tired”. Caring for a child with cancer is both physically and emotionally draining.