Solving Kids’ Cancer UK
Oliver's Campaign
Oliver has high-risk neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer that has a 40-50% chance of long-term survival at diagnosis. His family are appealing for your help to access a clinical trial in New York.
Story
Oliver is a happy and active four-year-old boy who loves to play with his little brother Alfie and his friends at school.
Oliver is battling a disease no child should have to. He has high-risk neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer that has a 40-50% chance of long-term survival at diagnosis.
His parents are fundraising so Oliver can access the Bivalent Vaccine clinical trial at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York by March 2021.
Olivers Story
In January 2020 Oliver was taken to the GP after his parents noticed changes to his skin. He was taken for a blood test and the following day had further tests and scans.
The day passed in a blur as our happy little boy suddenly became frightened, withdrawn and looked very poorly. I was shocked when they said that Oliver needed to stay overnight whilst they looked further into the test results, says Oliver's mum, Laura.
Two days after taking him to the GP, on Friday 17th January Oliver's parents were told the devastating news that Oliver had high-risk neuroblastoma. A lump had been found on his kidney and the cancer had spread to his bone marrow, skull and his eye sockets. Due to the proximity of the cancer cells to Oliver's eye nerves, the chemotherapy treatment was started the very next day.
Everything happened so quickly that we barely had time to process what was happening. It was all such a blur of confusion, questions, tears and fear, says Laura.
Treatment
Oliver completed a course of 9 rounds of chemotherapy, and he recovered quickly after each round, especially enjoying the attention from the nurses and playing with the toys in the playroom.
Oliver has also endured surgery to remove the tumour, high dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplant and radiotherapy.
He gave us the strength and bravery that we all needed to get through this, says Laura.
As Oliver was receiving high dose chemotherapy, COVID-19 hit resulting in Oliver and dad James having to spend 7 weeks isolating in hospital.
As well as not being able to see each other, lockdown meant that our previous support network of family and friends were now no longer allowed to be near us, to support us or to help us, says Laura.
During his stem cell transplant Oliver became extremely ill suffered from Graft-Versus-Host disease as well as Veno-Occlusive Disease. Eventually, he was allowed home for the first time and he was on his feet playing with his brother Alfie every day.
Olivers Fundraising Campaign
Oliver is now undergoing immunotherapy and is due to complete frontline treatment in March 2021. The family are fundraising so that he can access the Bivalent Vaccine trial in New York at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center once frontline treatment is completed that aims to keep the cancer from returning.
We never want to see our little boy go through such cruel treatments again and we hope that this vaccine will give him a higher chance of living a full and fulfilling life, says Laura.
How you can help
There are many ways you can help Oliver: by sharing his story on Twitter and Facebook; by making a personal donation; holding a fundraising event; getting sponsored to take on a challenge.
To donate by text, send OLIVERS followed by any whole amount up to £20 to 70085. This will cost your donation plus your standard network charge. It won't matter if you leave a space before the number, if you include a £ sign or whether you use upper or lower case.
If you would like help supporting Olivers campaign, please get in touch with the fundraising team on 0207 284 0800 and fundraising@solvingkidscancer.org.uk
