Alfie’s Story
Donation protected
Being a parent and bringing a child into our world is one of the most precious gifts we are given. It is the gift of gifts and we will all do anything, absolutely anything, for our kids.
One of my best pals, Carolyne, has a son called Alfie, a cheeky chappie if ever there was one and a HUGE Man Utd fan. Alfie is 10, he loves life and everything it offers him. Above all, he adores his mum and she cherishes everything about him.
Recently, and out of blue, Alfie was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour. It all started in September 2018 with headaches which the doctor thought was, initially, a sinus infection and, simply, gave Alfie some tablets. The headaches grew worse and worse and worse and his eyesight was being impacted. They say a mother's instinct is spot on and Carolyne knew something was just not right. He had further tests including precautionary MRI scans. After the anxious hours of waiting in the hospital, doctors told Carolyne was that Alfie had a solid mass in the centre of his brain. It was big enough to put severe pressure on his optic nerves causing severe headaches and blurred vision. During observation, Alfie was badly sick and immediately blue-lighted to the specialist brain hospital at Adenbrookes where it was confirmed that poor Alfie had a brain tumour called Craniopharyngioma, quite rare but commonly discovered in children.
Aged just 8 years old, Alfie had to undergo urgent open surgery on his brain. The surgery went well and to plan with surgeons removing as much (two thirds) of the tumour from his brain as possible. But they had to leave some of it intact as it was attached to his brain and to try and remove it would have been far too risky and led to possible brain damage. Mercifully, tests showed the tumour to be benign. However, despite the successful surgery, further tests and analysis showed that Alfie's pituitary gland wasn't working properly and not producing growth hormones. More tests followed which resulted in Alfie being put on hormone replacement treatment to prevent stunted growth, which he'll be on now throughout his life.
But yet more bad news was to come. The tumour in Alfies's brain had returned, grown back and doubled in size. Alfie needed yet more surgery to reduce the tumour again. And he will next need an intensive daily round of Proton Beam Radiotherapy at the superb Christie Hospital in Manchester over six weeks. He's had the surgery and the Proton treatment begins at the end of March in Manchester.
Alfie will have the very best care during his treatment with the wonderful NHS staff at The Christie.
So you might be asking why donate a few quid?
Well, during the six weeks she will be alongside Alfie as he undergoes his treatment in Manchester, Carolyne has to take unpaid leave and won't have an income during this period. So as well as her fixed costs back home in Dunstable, she will have significant additional living and travel expenses while in Manchester. Quite simply, she needs a financial helping-hand to pay the bills at two ends of the country and every little will count and every little will help ease the anxiety levels and stress levels.
If you can help In anyway financially to help cover some of the costs however small then please do and if you can’t then please share. It would be amazing if we all can try and help alleviate those worries for Carolyne and Alfie’s family to concentrate solely on supporting the young lad emotionally whilst he deals with the hardest time in his life for the 2nd time in a space of a year. Anything above and beyond the money that is needed to help Carolyne and Alfie will be donated to a charity to help support other children with the same condition.
Let's all give a little - the price of a pint, of some sweets, a bottle of wine - to help Alfie and Carolyne. Be kind. Be good. Be as generous as you can be.
And Alfie's wish while is in Manchester for treatment and near to his beloved Man Utd - to go to Old Trafford and see his favourite players - Lingard, DeGea and Pogba - in action. Dreams do come true at the Theatre of Dreams!
Thank you, everyone.
One of my best pals, Carolyne, has a son called Alfie, a cheeky chappie if ever there was one and a HUGE Man Utd fan. Alfie is 10, he loves life and everything it offers him. Above all, he adores his mum and she cherishes everything about him.
Recently, and out of blue, Alfie was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour. It all started in September 2018 with headaches which the doctor thought was, initially, a sinus infection and, simply, gave Alfie some tablets. The headaches grew worse and worse and worse and his eyesight was being impacted. They say a mother's instinct is spot on and Carolyne knew something was just not right. He had further tests including precautionary MRI scans. After the anxious hours of waiting in the hospital, doctors told Carolyne was that Alfie had a solid mass in the centre of his brain. It was big enough to put severe pressure on his optic nerves causing severe headaches and blurred vision. During observation, Alfie was badly sick and immediately blue-lighted to the specialist brain hospital at Adenbrookes where it was confirmed that poor Alfie had a brain tumour called Craniopharyngioma, quite rare but commonly discovered in children.
Aged just 8 years old, Alfie had to undergo urgent open surgery on his brain. The surgery went well and to plan with surgeons removing as much (two thirds) of the tumour from his brain as possible. But they had to leave some of it intact as it was attached to his brain and to try and remove it would have been far too risky and led to possible brain damage. Mercifully, tests showed the tumour to be benign. However, despite the successful surgery, further tests and analysis showed that Alfie's pituitary gland wasn't working properly and not producing growth hormones. More tests followed which resulted in Alfie being put on hormone replacement treatment to prevent stunted growth, which he'll be on now throughout his life.
But yet more bad news was to come. The tumour in Alfies's brain had returned, grown back and doubled in size. Alfie needed yet more surgery to reduce the tumour again. And he will next need an intensive daily round of Proton Beam Radiotherapy at the superb Christie Hospital in Manchester over six weeks. He's had the surgery and the Proton treatment begins at the end of March in Manchester.
Alfie will have the very best care during his treatment with the wonderful NHS staff at The Christie.
So you might be asking why donate a few quid?
Well, during the six weeks she will be alongside Alfie as he undergoes his treatment in Manchester, Carolyne has to take unpaid leave and won't have an income during this period. So as well as her fixed costs back home in Dunstable, she will have significant additional living and travel expenses while in Manchester. Quite simply, she needs a financial helping-hand to pay the bills at two ends of the country and every little will count and every little will help ease the anxiety levels and stress levels.
If you can help In anyway financially to help cover some of the costs however small then please do and if you can’t then please share. It would be amazing if we all can try and help alleviate those worries for Carolyne and Alfie’s family to concentrate solely on supporting the young lad emotionally whilst he deals with the hardest time in his life for the 2nd time in a space of a year. Anything above and beyond the money that is needed to help Carolyne and Alfie will be donated to a charity to help support other children with the same condition.
Let's all give a little - the price of a pint, of some sweets, a bottle of wine - to help Alfie and Carolyne. Be kind. Be good. Be as generous as you can be.
And Alfie's wish while is in Manchester for treatment and near to his beloved Man Utd - to go to Old Trafford and see his favourite players - Lingard, DeGea and Pogba - in action. Dreams do come true at the Theatre of Dreams!
Thank you, everyone.
Organizer and beneficiary
Daniel Coffey
Organizer
Carolyne Barber
Beneficiary
