Liam

Liam’s story

In the summer of 2019, three-year-old Liam began to have night terrors and was increasingly tired during the day. He became irritable and wouldn’t eat much, so his parents took him for a blood test. After this, he was referred to a Paediatric Consultant, who felt a lump. Liam had an ultrasound, CT scan and various blood tests, which confirmed the lump was cancer. 

Liam went under general anaesthetic for a biopsy of the tumour and a Hickman Line was inserted. At this time, Liam’s mum, Claire, had the added stress of being heavily pregnant with Liam’s little sister, Kylie – she was born whilst Liam was in hospital undergoing tests. The day after giving birth, Claire left the hospital to attend a meeting at the Royal Marsden Hospital to discuss Liam’s diagnosis and treatment. 

Liam’s treatment started with intense chemotherapy, which involved constant weekly blood and platelet transfusions. During this treatment, he suffered numerous infections from the chemotherapy making him continuously neutropenic. These infections kept him in hospital for most of this part of treatment. 

Over six hours in surgery followed to remove the tumour, then it was high-dose chemotherapy. This kept him in hospital for almost two months while he recovered from treatment, because of its severity.  He then had radiotherapy treatment and completed six months of immunotherapy. 

Liam finished frontline treatment in August 2020 with clear scans showing no evidence of disease. His family had decided to fundraise so he could enrol on the bivalent vaccine clinical trial in New York after frontline treatment in the hope of keeping cancer away. 

Thanks to Liam’s generous supporters raising the funds in seven months, the family travelled to America in September 2020. Liam completed the clinical trial in September 2021. 

Liam is now seven years old, has started school and remains in remission! 

_{Solving Kids' Cancer UK's children's fundraising campaigns} 

_{Funds raised will go towards helping Liam should he need further treatment not available through the NHS. Liam's cancer, high-risk neuroblastoma is aggressive with high rates of relapse. At relapse, the chance of survival is extremely low. If Liam no longer needs the funds or is in remission five years post the end of treatment, the funds will be used to support other children and families affected by neuroblastoma through our activities.}