Sam's leukaemia story

Emily was a real life saver

These difficult times brought along with it different challenges. Amanda was pregnant with our daughter, Emily, and on one occasion was rushed from Sam’s ward to the maternity ward due to concern for the pregnancy.

On top of this, some results on tests for Emily meant we had to make regular trips for scans to ensure she was developing OK. Thankfully everything turned out well.

Emily was a real life-saver, bringing happiness to an otherwise difficult, sad time. She has made us laugh ever since she came into the world and helped us stay together as a family – something that was not always the case on the ward.

Difficult years of treatment

After some time on the ward and getting to know all the staff, we were told that we were lucky to have Sam. Had we not acted when we did, he wouldn’t be here.

The sick feeling we got when we heard those frightening words raised its ugly head again during year two of Sam’s treatment.  Sam spent four days in intensive care under constant supervision. He was unable to shake off a raging temperature of 40+ degrees and was extremely ill.

Thankfully, again, he managed to pull through this. Unfortunately, we were to go through this again. When spending some luxury time at home, he spiked another temperature and we spent a number of days in Kettering General Hospital. We also spent time in quarantine and isolation from the ward when Sam contracted chickenpox, a potential killer for leukaemia sufferers.

Sam is now a healthy teenager

Some very difficult situations also arose on the ward. The unfortunate loss of life for a number of patients we knew well. These losses added pressure of the unknown – whether Sam would make it. We are so very thankful he did, as well as so sorry for the parents that lost a child.

After spending all that time in and out of hospital over the years, Sam is now a healthy 13-year-old. He has annual check ups at Leicester Royal Infirmary to make sure everything is going well. He also has separate heart checks every 18 months at Glenfield Hospital as he has an enlarged ventricle they are keeping an eye on.

Although we know Sam shows no sign of relapse, these appointments are still difficult to attend emotionally and can throw up some bad memories.

Sam doesn’t remember many things from his early days in hospital. But he did tell me the other day he remembered being held down by me so he could have a vital injection – an injection he had to have in alternate legs every day for eight days. Sam finished his treatment in 2003.