Magnus
Mighty Magnus is now 12! He has been ‘no evidence of disease’ since completing frontline treatment in 2019. He enjoys gaming, playing board games with his family and friends and reading.
Magnus' story
Just before Christmas 2017, Magnus went into his local hospital in excruciating pain. He had in the prior weeks complained of aching in his hip and had been checked for appendicitis, but on this occasion something much worse awaited.
A large tumour was found in his abdomen and tests confirmed that he had high-risk (stage 4) neuroblastoma. The disease had already spread to his bones and bone marrow and urgent treatment needed to start immediately.
“Sitting with Magnus and a radiologist whilst she undertook the ultrasound that found the tumour felt like watching a film. The reality of being told your child has a life-threatening illness is not something your brain can readily accept. It’s completely overwhelming."
Magnus’ mum, Kate
Treatment
Magnus underwent more medical procedures and hospital stays than anyone should reasonably have to endure in a lifetime, let alone this cheeky seven-year-old. He had endless chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a lengthy operation.
Treatment left Magnus unable to eat properly and for several months he needed to be fed straight into his blood via a tube. Other chronic problems included mobility problems, which left him needing regular use of a wheelchair, and he has had hearing aids fitted because of the damage caused by the chemotherapy.
Courage through cancer
Despite all he went through with treatment Magnus displayed immense courage in the face of so much going on in his life and retained a lovely sense of humour. His fighting spirit inspired the ‘Mighty Magnus’ campaign, based on his love of Vikings, which was adopted by the local Northampton community as they rallied round to support him.
His parents were desperate for him to access the bivalent vaccine clinical trial at the world-renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York after the completion of his NHS treatment in May 2019. After end of treatment scans showed Magnus was cancer-free, Magnus and his family, having raised over £225,000, travelled to America and he completed the trial in 2020.
Mighty Magnus is now 12! He enjoys gaming, playing board games with his family and reading. His mum, Kate, has stayed connected to the charity as a member of our Parent Involvement Forum.
“I have witnessed so much stoicism and endurance from Magnus and the other children on oncology wards during Magnus’ cancer treatment, true Viking characteristics. He has had an unbelievably difficult time but he kept going despite it all."
Magnus' dad, Sandy
Solving Kids' Cancer UK's children's fundraising campaigns
Magnus' fundraising campaign for access to treatment raised £232,059 before it was closed. Funds raised through a child's fundraising campaign are spent on their treatment and pastoral needs. Any remaining funds, and all funds raised after five years post the end of the child's treatment, are used to support other children and families through Solving Kids' Cancer UK's activities.