Isaac's story

Admitted to hospital

We took Isaac to the drop-in centre because of his persistent backache. They examined him and said they didn’t think there was any bone injury to his back and shoulder but agreed he looked very unwell and his temperature was very high. Our GP’s surgery is next door so they called over and asked if a doctor could see him immediately.

The GP was concerned so, on 22 January 2016, we were referred to Peterborough hospital and admitted. Blood tests, examinations and X-rays didn’t really assist as they all seemed pretty normal and not consistent with the child who presented in agony and looked awful.

The stay in hospital was particularly distressing for Isaac. He hated it. He hated any procedure, any doctor or nurse speaking with him and was generally miserable and more and more grumpy! He also seemed to be getting progressively unwell. The complete opposite of his normal self.

As they were struggling to diagnose, the hospital planned an ultrasound scan for 27 January 2016. Because of how distressed Isaac had become in the hospital, the doctors agreed that he should have a night in his own bed at home and return early the next day for that scan.

The ultrasound scan again showed nothing wrong. His blood test results were all still normal except for a marker showing he had either an infection or inflammation that seemed to be getting worse. So an MRI was arranged for the whole of his back to try once and for all to work out what was going on.

Diagnosis

On 2 February 2016, we set off early to hospital. Isaac had a general anaesthetic for them to do a bone marrow biopsy. And then the wait!

The wait that day seemed endless. We were even admitted to the ward as the day unit we had attended was closing before the consultant was able to discuss the findings. That evening we sat in a room with consultants who broke the news that Isaac had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

It didn’t actually come like a bolt from the blue as I thought it might. I think that was what happened the Friday before. Now we knew what was making him ill, we just wanted to know what they were going to do about it.

His treatment plan was explained, focusing on the first phase of his treatment, but informing us of the fact it would consist of five phases and would take more than three years. They came with us to tell Isaac the diagnosis and to explain it. And so the journey commenced!

Update: January 2017

Isaac has completed the intensive four phases of his treatment and is now into phase 5, maintenance, which will continue until May 2019.

As the dates are coming around, it is actually the days near the dates that are the memory. So it will be 31 January 2016 when I think I will find myself reflecting more on the day of diagnosis rather than 2 February. As the dates come around, I remember some details vividly, others not so clearly. But what I do remember more than all else is the way Isaac has responded to the diagnosis over the last year. He has asked questions and found it hard at times, but he has not moaned, or whinged.

Isaac has shown remarkable courage and joy and has matured in confidence beyond his years. He speaks freely of his faith in God for his future and knowing God’s presence is with him.

(January 2017)

Update: Half term October 2018

For half term we went to see Tim Peake’s space craft that is on display in Peterborough Cathedral. When Isaac was first ill and in hospital when they were trying to find out what was wrong in January 2016 before he was diagnosed, he had to have an MRI scan. They expected the scan to take about 40 minutes and explained how he’d need to stay still. He told them he was going to imagine he was Tim Peake going up to the space station. At school in December they’d watched him go into space and so he thought it was really clever that he could pretend too. During the MRI they found abnormalities to Isaac’s bone marrow and that he had a collapsed vertebrae, so the MRI ended up taking two hours. The guy doing the scan was talking to Isaac via a headset throughout and was asking him questions all about his journey to the space station and kept him distracted. As it had taken so long and Isaac had been so good, they gave him a certificate. Isaac continued to be interested in Tim Peake’s trip and was particularly excited when he came back to earth on his 10th birthday.

So it was really great going to see the spacecraft today.

Treatments  Side effects of treatments Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

May 2019: Ringing the end of treatment bell

Celebrating Isaac’s end of treatment was a wonderful experience – after more than three years of treatment, we often wondered if this day would ever come but seeing Isaac ring The End of Treatment Bell and finally saying goodbye to cancer was absolutely surreal and an emotional high for our family.

We are so thankful for the amazing care he has had throughout his cancer journey. We are grateful to the hospital staff and the work of charities like Children with Cancer UK – which works hard to improve cure rates, reduce treatment side effects and also provides special days out to families affected by cancer.

Our family has had so many incredible experiences through Children with Cancer UK and these memories will last a lifetime.

Thank you!

Read more about Isaac and his family in Liz’s Blog. 

Update: August 2024

I have just finished Year 13 and my A-Levels. This year (2024) I’m going to St Mary’s University, Twickenham to study Sport and Exercise Science. I am very excited for this opportunity. I am also a very keen sportsman. I love athletics, particularly middle distance running. This season I’ve raced lots of 800m races as well as a few 400m and 1500m. I am going to be training as part of the Endurance Performance Centre when I go to university. I would love to running professionally and that is my ultimate target in the future.

Isaac, August 2024