Oliver W

Oliver was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in September 2021 .

It all started in August 2021 with what we thought was simply a back ache . We had various trips to A&E and each time being sent away, paramedic visits and diagnosing a sprained back injury which would require physio . We were advised to speak with the GP. The next morning we called the GP and he wanted to see Oliver straight away . When we arrived with Oliver in a wheelchair as he could no longer walk due to the severity of the pain, Oliver’s Dr, along with a lead practitioner, had prepared a lengthy letter to take to Hastings A&E department and to not leave until these certain things they had outlined had been done .

From Hastings, Oliver was then transferred to Eastbourne and after a few nights there receiving fluids and blood transfusions with still no diagnosis we were transferred to the Royal Marsden.

Within 24 hours Oliver had had a bone marrow biopsy and the diagnosis.

Oliver’s journey was far from simple. He was delayed in starting chemotherapy as Oliver had now tested positive for covid. He started chemo on 5th October, his Dad's birthday.

A few weeks later, we had the news that chemo hadn’t brought Oliver into remission and that he could now go onto regiment c but that he will eventually need to have a bone marrow transplant. This was devastating for us as a family.

In December 2021 we found out that both his siblings were a bone marrow match! Jacob being the closet so it was decided that due to that and his age they would use him. Oliver was offered to take part in a trial through Great Ormond Street. The new treatment, Car T-Cell, would use Oliver’s own modified T-cells to fight any B-cells.

Oliver went into GOSH on 30th March 2022 and cell day was 6th April. After 6 weeks in hospital everything was looking great and Oliver was on top form, the best he had been in ages. After around 4 weeks of being at home we had the call to say that Car T was no longer effective and they are now urging for him to have a bone marrow transplant ASAP. We had an extremely busy few weeks of various hospital appointments for both Oliver and Jacob. Jacob started the injections to produce more cells the day before his birthday. He went into the Marsden and they managed to collect a whopping 14 million cells (4 million were needed).

Oliver’s original transplant date was put back by 2 weeks as his little sister had what we thought were chicken pox and they obviously couldn’t risk it. Oliver took the delay extremely hard and this was the 1st time that he showed and said how he was feeling. Oliver went into hospital on the 12th August for high doses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and received the transplant on 18th August!

Oliver was in hospital for 10 weeks. He has had a bumpy journey since being discharged with more stays and various tests and scans, but he is still in remission!

CWCF have been so supportive and we have had so much fun with them . From the panto and party to Oliver getting the opportunity to go in a plane and even take control. Our wonderful wishes and Oliver’s 18th birthday wish. We cannot thank them all enough. The support they offer families in such a difficult time is priceless and we are so grateful.