Story
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On the 4th September 2015, a team of ten family friends; Ross Sutherland, Craig Johnston, Rory Patience, Stuart Murray, Gavin Wilkie, Bryan Begbie, Brian Johnston, Chris Fowler, Gareth Winchester and Craig Lister will be undertaking a 72 hole golf-a-thon (4 rounds of golf in a day) at Oldmeldrum Golf Club, Aberdeenshire to raise as much money as possible to help Kris & Hollie get Hamish breakthrough medical treatment that's currently not available in the UK. Please read Hamish's journey below;
On January 2015, Hollie and Kris
noticed that Hamish had begun limping.
Initially this was related to an on-going ear infection but when Hamish
fell at a soft play centre and was unable to bear any weight afterwards, he was
sent to their local Accident & Emergency unit. Whilst there, Kris and Hollie say that their world “Slowly started to
fall apart.”
After tests on Friday 31st January the family were invited back on the following Monday for further testing and bone marrow aspirate samples. Devastatingly, Kris and Hollie reveal, “That evening we were told it was almost certain Hamish had neuroblastoma and we would be transferred to Yorkhill Children's Hospital in Glasgow the next day.”
Neuroblastoma is a particularly aggressive form of childhood cancer and the most common cancer outside the brain in children under 5 years old. In most cases it is only diagnosed when it has already progressed to a late ‘high risk’ stage.
Hamish showed very few symptoms of neuroblastoma prior to diagnosis. The limping that we had noticed before was actually caused by fractures in his legs due to the cancer.
By February 2015, Hamish had started an intensive regime of chemotherapy. Hollie says “It's truly heart-breaking seeing your baby in pain, having numerous medicines to take every day, and fighting the biggest battle of his life. Hamish is a strong wee man and his mummy and daddy are with him every step of his journey.”
Kris and Hollie say that Hamish amazes them more and more every day with the spirit in which he is tackling this awful disease. He continues to smile the most beautiful smile even though the demands of treatment have meant that Hamish has yet to return home since that day of diagnosis.
Chemotherapy ended in April and reassessment scans have been positive. Surgery in June 2015 was a success and Hollie says “I can't wait for the day we all return home with Hamish cured. It will be an emotional day for us all when he sees his old bedroom and toys again, but we are here for as long as that takes.”
Hamish was, and still very much is, a
fun loving little boy. He previously attended nursery which he thrived from and
was a sociable wee man. His love of playing, singing, Toy Story and having fun
has never stopped. Some activities, like swimming, that Hamish enjoyed prior to
his diagnosis have had to stop for the time being. He loved his swimming
lessons and his parents can’t wait for the day they get him back in the water.
His attendance at nursery and a local playgroup has also had to end, but the
family can't wait to see Hamish back where he should be; running about with his
friends.
Kris speaks movingly about his son:
“Obviously,
like all boys, playtime was one of his favourite activities and was becoming
longer and more diverse. Since his hospital stay his imagination has taken off.
Role play is a particular favourite, however he is the boss and takes charge of
assigning roles; like the director of an action movie. It's quite difficult
trying to play Fireman Sam, a dinosaur and the big bad wolf within a 30 second
timeframe but he seems to manage without too much fuss. It's more amusing for
me when he hauls in his extras (grandmas and grandads) and makes them play out
various parts!
So that's our boy at his best, however he has been at
that and more since February. He has taken the hits that chemo throws at you,
the intense pain that comes from the side effects. The sickness to him was just
an inconvenience. I, or rather we, are in awe of him every day. He inspires us,
keeps us sane and in return we will hold his hand, trying to make him
laugh and smile whenever possible. We will love and adore every single
second being with him and we will not rest until we get him home and in
remission. Our wee boy is our world and we love him to infinity and beyond.”
Please make a donation to the NCCA UK to help Hamish and children like him. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference.
Thanks for reading and for any and all kind donations.