Frank
"The thought of one of our children getting cancer never once crossed my mind. Not once. This happened to ‘other people’. Childhood cancer was something you read about in a magazine and regardless of how tragically sad it was, it was still very much ‘this happens to other people’. I know many people reading this will think exactly the same. This happens to other people. It doesn’t, It could happen to you tomorrow. Just like it did us. So I would like to raise awareness for childhood cancer. It’s not just for those ‘unfortunate’ few who are impacted by it. It is for every single person who has a child in their life. It is for our children’s children. It is for our future.
Frank was diagnosed with Rhabdo Myo Sarcoma in July 2016 at two years old. After nine rounds of chemotherapy, 32 doses of proton radio therapy in Oklahoma City USA, our brave Frank under went 45 plus GA’s for procedures, MRI scans, and 32 of the GA’s were for proton therapy.
Frank is amazingly going to be 9 years clear on the 24th February 2026, but the age old drugs received will impact him for life: Greater risk of secondary cancer from chemo, greater risk of secondary cancer from having radiation so young, infertility, facial disfigurement, dental problems, he’s blind in one eye, on a daily growth hormone that we inject at bedtime all caused from damage from the poison that was used to save his life. Our children deserve more than luck to survive and sadly some don’t. We are so extremely lucky and Frank is here today to raise awareness for childhood cancer.
Charities such as Children with Cancer Fund in Polegate has supported us in so many ways. And continue to support us until Frank is 18, which is amazing. Even though he is now clear he still has many side effects and more to come, we 100% appreciate the work that they do. They have given us caravan holidays every year, an amazing holiday to the Isle of Wight, trips to theme parks, Parties, ice skating, Treats for the kids and parents and so much more. I sometimes think as everything is over, we shouldn’t get these treats anymore, but actually it’s just ongoing and it softens the blow of everything that happened. Frank deserves the world and more from what he has endured in his young life so far, way more than some people ever would.
We never want sympathy or handouts but charities such as CWCF are angels in disguise and we are forever grateful for their work, their donors and supporters."
