Always remembering
Kaylum
Superhero fan Kaylum was full of charm and charisma, a little boy with a fabulous personality who made everyone smile! Kaylum passed away when he was five years old.
Kaylum’s story
Kaylum was diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma in July 2013. He had been to the doctors twice in a month, first with an eye infection and then after waking up in the night with stomach pains. But it wasn’t until he started limping due to pains in his leg that Kaylum went to the hospital.
X-rays showed a fractured hip and possible infection. He had an operation the next day to wash out his hip but mum, Leanne, was still concerned. He had been on antibiotics for several days for an ear infection and it wasn’t getting any better.
When an MRI scan revealed Kaylum had cancer, his parents heard the words no parent should ever have to hear.
Things moved very quickly after that. Kaylum had a Hickman line fitted to allow treatment to start. He coped well with chemotherapy and a 7-hour surgery to remove the tumour. Treatment continued with high-dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, radiotherapy and a drug trial called Anti GD2.
In October 2014, the family received the news that Kaylum was in remission. Kaylum enjoyed 9 months free from the disease. But devastatingly in July 2015 he relapsed. He received more chemotherapy and MIBG therapy, and the family were supported by Solving Kids’ Cancer UK to raise £280,000 in the hope of accessing treatment abroad to prevent his cancer progressing and then to prevent it from returning.
But Kaylum’s neuroblastoma progressed. He fought and fought but sadly was never able to access further treatment.
Kaylum passed away on 6th August 2016 surrounded by the people he loved.
Donations made in loving memory of children
Funds raised in loving memory of Kaylum will be used to support other children like Kaylum and their families through Solving Kids' Cancer UK's activities. Any funds raised through a previous fundraising campaign for access to treatment which were not spent on the child's treatment and pastoral needs are used to support other children and families through Solving Kids' Cancer UK's activities.