Elijah
What began as a routine GP visit for a suspected hernia turned into a whirlwind of scans, hospitals, and uncertainty. Elijah was just over one year old when we received the devastating news: our baby boy had cancer. In those early days, we were living off instinct, overwhelmed and isolated. Although we met other families during hospital stays, the word “cancer” often created distance. People didn’t know what to say, and we didn’t want pity — we just needed support.
We were introduced to the Children with Cancer Fund through a family friend who worked alongside the charity through a major supermarket brand. She told Chris about us, and soon after, we were welcomed into the CWCF family. Meeting Chris was a turning point. We no longer felt alone. One of the first events we attended was a parents’ evening — a safe space for us to speak freely, hear others’ stories, and feel truly understood. Families were at different stages of their journey — some filled with hope, others experiencing heartbreak — but we shared a bond, a community. We left that evening knowing that whatever came next, we had people by our side.
Elijah was diagnosed around Christmas, a time that should have been joyful but was instead filled with travel, emotional stress, and financial strain. The Children with Cancer Fund stepped in with Tesco vouchers, allowing us to celebrate Christmas without the added worry. Over the next year, Elijah underwent chemotherapy and major surgery to remove his tumour. It was a tough road, but our little warrior fought through — and now, five years later, he is in remission.
One of the most special things the Children with Cancer Fund does is provide “wishes” — not just for the child with cancer, but for the whole family. Elijah received a wish, but so did Jamil, and both me and Charley. These wishes gave us joy, hope, and something to look forward to during the hardest times. Importantly, Jamil — who inevitably started to feel the focus was often on Elijah — was treated as equally important. CWCF made sure he felt special and valued, and that meant the world to us.
The wishes were wonderful, but the real magic of CWCF is the people. The volunteers and staff work so hard behind the scenes to make sure every family is welcomed, supported, and cared for. Their dedication is what made all the difference.
The Children with Cancer fund gave Elijah and Jamil a chance to just be boys, to laugh and play without being “the child with cancer.” They gave us time as a family — panto trips, caravan holidays, horse riding, swimming, crazy golf, farms, picnics, archery, bowling, the science museum, and so many other magical experiences.
Even now, in remission, we are part of the CWCF family. They provided not just financial help and event's, but more importantly, emotional support, a sense of belonging, and friendships that will last a lifetime. Simply put, without them, our journey would have been almost impossible.
