Kelly Russell
Matthew's Mission
Fundraising for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity
Story
Our mission is to raise money to support the amazing work of Birmingham Children's Hospital, who treated our 5 year old son Matthew.
Matthew was diagnosed a week before Christmas 2015 with an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer called Burkitt's Leukaemia/Lymphoma.
Fewer than 70 children in the UK are diagnosed with Burkitt's Leukaemia/Lymphoma each year; less than 5% of all childhood cancer.
Most children can be cured of Burkitt's with multiple chemotherapy drugs but the treatment is extremely tough and the side effects are very nasty.
The main side effect Matthew suffered from was Mucositis, which causes painful inflammation and ulceration in the lining of the digestive tract. This meant that Matthew's mouth, stomach, intestines and bottom all suffered as the skin literally broke down.
The pain he had to endure was unbearable at times. He was unable to eat or drink for long periods and every time he went to the toilet he was in agony and needed a morphine and ketamine infusion to enable him to cope.
Thoughout the 6 months of treatment Matthew continually amazed us with his bravery and resilience. Despite the pain he has still managed to make us smile and won over the hearts of all the wonderful staff at Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Matthew has been in remission for over 18 months now and is doing incredibly well. He’s in reception class and you really wouldn’t know he’d been poorly.
If anyone would like to join Team Matthew’s Mission please get in touch.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story and I hope you can help us support the amazing hospital that cares for so many poorly children.
Matthew was diagnosed a week before Christmas 2015 with an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer called Burkitt's Leukaemia/Lymphoma.
Fewer than 70 children in the UK are diagnosed with Burkitt's Leukaemia/Lymphoma each year; less than 5% of all childhood cancer.
Most children can be cured of Burkitt's with multiple chemotherapy drugs but the treatment is extremely tough and the side effects are very nasty.
The main side effect Matthew suffered from was Mucositis, which causes painful inflammation and ulceration in the lining of the digestive tract. This meant that Matthew's mouth, stomach, intestines and bottom all suffered as the skin literally broke down.
The pain he had to endure was unbearable at times. He was unable to eat or drink for long periods and every time he went to the toilet he was in agony and needed a morphine and ketamine infusion to enable him to cope.
Thoughout the 6 months of treatment Matthew continually amazed us with his bravery and resilience. Despite the pain he has still managed to make us smile and won over the hearts of all the wonderful staff at Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Matthew has been in remission for over 18 months now and is doing incredibly well. He’s in reception class and you really wouldn’t know he’d been poorly.
If anyone would like to join Team Matthew’s Mission please get in touch.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story and I hope you can help us support the amazing hospital that cares for so many poorly children.