Help Ryley’s Family Through Leukaemia Treatment

Ryley is eleven years old and loves gaming, anime and football. His banter and sarcasm make him hilarious to all that love him, he gets good grades at school and like most usual 11-year-old boys, he enjoys competing against his friends online.

At the end of May 2023, Ryley went on a camping holiday with his family. He slept a lot, had worsening pain in his legs, felt pressure on his chest and didn’t enjoy his usual activities like kicking a ball around - The family noted he wasn’t his usual self. A doctor’s appointment was booked upon their return, where they were urged to go to A & E in their local hospital after the doctor identified low oxygen levels and suggested an ECG to rule out anything heart related. Once in hospital, after feeling some alarmingly large lymph nodes behind his ears that had increased in size rapidly, an X-ray showing a shadow and blood tests showing sporadic markers, mum Cara was told that Great Ormond Street Hospital were on standby. It was then they realised that something was more seriously wrong than they first expected. The following morning, they were blue – lighted by ambulance to the Oncology Ward at Great Ormond Street Hospital – Ryley had leukaemia.

“Am I going to die mum?” was the first heartbreaking question Ryley asked.

Leukaemia is a cancer of the body’s blood forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. The bone marrow produces an excessive amount of abnormal white blood cells, which don’t function properly.

What happened next over just a short few days was a blur of more tests, consultants, nurses, surgery to insert his central line (This is a central venous catheter that is placed into the chest to access his veins easily and less intrusively. It administers chemotherapy, other IV medications needed and draws blood without the need for cannulas), bone marrow aspirates and lumber punctures. Chemotherapy was commenced straight away, and Cara and David (dad) were asked to sign consent forms with a horrifying list of side effects and consent to clinical trials.

Less than one month later Ryley has already had numerous injections, numerous anaesthetics, several cycles of chemotherapy, daily steroids and invasive procedures like lumber punctures and bone marrow aspirates. He has started to lose his hair, has dark circles under his eyes, his face is swelling from the steroids and mostly must lie down due to lethargy from treatment.

Ryley will not be able to return to his final year in Primary School to say goodbye to his friends and will not have a smooth transition into Senior School. His important years of childhood have been robbed by cancer.

Cara and David are separated but co – parent. David does not work due to his own disabilities and Cara had to hand her notice in with immediate effect to look after Ryley. But the economy system continues - normal household bills need paying such as rent and water plus following a cancer diagnosis, there are added expenses for families. Fuel costs increase due to getting the child to their treatment centre, parking costs near the hospital, heating costs increase due to the child being immunocompromised, food costs increase due to steroid side effects for the child, and hospitals not feeding the parents, so they are having to ‘eat on the go’.

Having a child with cancer is exhausting. Mentally, physically and spiritually, it drains every ounce of your wellbeing, and every source of energy is used on taking care of your child. Your identity is lost, and finances take a back seat, as well as most other things. We are starting this Crowdfunding page so we can at least make one thing slightly easier for the family and if costs are increasing and income is decreasing, it makes sense that the family will need extra funds.

Asking for help, especially financially does not come easily to Cara but the treatment pathway for Ryley is expected to last at least two years. The next phase of his treatment will depend largely on his response to the induction phase that he is currently undergoing. Treatment decisions will be made along the way, such as whether he needs radiotherapy or whether he will need a bone marrow transplant.

Any spare much needed pounds that can be donated to the family, whether a small or large sum will all help, and I know just how grateful the family will be.

If you cannot donate, a simple ‘share’ on social media will help spread the word.

You can follow Ryley's progress here - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094365484105

Thank you.

Lots of love from Hayley and Eva xxx