Connors Run 4 Cancer
Donation protected
Connor was diagnosed with a Central Nervous System, Medullablastoma brain tumour on the 23rd March 2020 (lockdown day). It is in the lower part of the brain where muscle coordination, balance and movement are controlled. His cancer had also spread down his spine.
In the last year, Connor has gone from being a very active and fit 13 year old boy who loves his rugby to losing the use of his lower body for a few months. He has spent the last 12 months in bed pretty much all the time. He is now able to walk short distances now but is extremely weak and tired. His balance isn’t great, but improving. Everyday he is pushing himself further and further whilst still undergoing Chemotherapy.
As it’s coming up to a year since his diagnosis and the end of his treatment, Connor is keen ditch his wheelchair, crutches and zimmer frame, he wants to regain his strength and mobility and has said he would like to do something to help other children and their families in this area living with childhood cancer. He would like to support CLIC Sargent at the RVI, they have helped and supported us since Connors diagnosis, along with The Toon 2 Town charity which he is involved with. They support, The Great North Air Ambulance, Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, The Dementia Care Foundation and The Teenage Cancer Trust.
Connor has set a goal to walk 20 miles in March. To some this may not seem a lot but for Connor this would be a huge achievement. At the moment Connor is unstable and needs some support from others whilst walking, he can only withstand 5-10 minute bouts of exercise without needing a rest. We see improvements everyday but Connor is determined to improve his balance, coordination and strength and we hope to see a huge difference by the end.
This fundraiser will definitely give him the motivation he needs to get out of his bed and get moving.
Connor really does have a heart of gold, he has the funniest sense of humour and has made everyone’s life so much easier during his treatment with his attitude.
Connor lost the use of his right leg a couple of weeks after his diagnosis due to tumour growth in his spine causing spinal compression. He underwent initial brain surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible from his brain, this left Connor unable to speak properly, walk, coordinate his hand movements and double vision. He then went onto have emergency radiotherapy to shrink the tumours in his spine as fast as possible. This came with the risk of paralysis or spinal damage but we had no choice to save Connors life. Thankfully this worked and he was able to continue with a further 6 weeks of high dose radiotherapy. This treatment was extremely harsh on Connor, and a real test of his endurance and strength to get through it.
In the course of this time he started to have seizures and was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, the ventricles in his brain were blocked. He had to have a shunt fitted in his brain which drains fluid away directly into his stomach. This has since blocked numerous times. He has had a total of 10 operations in 8 months.
Following the radiotherapy treatment he then went on to have high dose chemotherapy. This has been very tough on Connor, both mentally and physically. He had a very long stay in hospital, approximately 4 months. Due to Covid only myself and his Dad could be with him and not at the same time, we had to keep swapping over.
The treatment destroyed his bone marrow so each time he has had to have a bone marrow transplant using his own Stem cells which were harvested before treatment began. During the 3rd round his body could not take anymore and he went into heart failure. Connor was intubated and in an induced coma whilst they stabilised him. It was decided the risks were too great to continue with this treatment so he has now been put on a tablet form of chemotherapy drug for 6 months which isn’t as harsh. He has just completed the 5th month with only 1 more cycle to go.
All of the children and families we have met along this journey are truly amazing. I’m not sure where the strength and resilience of people comes from but when you’re faced with this you don’t have any choice but to deal with it head on and get through it day by day.
I am hoping that by telling Connors story we can raise awareness of childhood cancers and raise a good amount of money for his chosen charities and to get Connors fitness levels and strength back up.
Any amount of money is greatly appreciated. Thank you x.
In the last year, Connor has gone from being a very active and fit 13 year old boy who loves his rugby to losing the use of his lower body for a few months. He has spent the last 12 months in bed pretty much all the time. He is now able to walk short distances now but is extremely weak and tired. His balance isn’t great, but improving. Everyday he is pushing himself further and further whilst still undergoing Chemotherapy.
As it’s coming up to a year since his diagnosis and the end of his treatment, Connor is keen ditch his wheelchair, crutches and zimmer frame, he wants to regain his strength and mobility and has said he would like to do something to help other children and their families in this area living with childhood cancer. He would like to support CLIC Sargent at the RVI, they have helped and supported us since Connors diagnosis, along with The Toon 2 Town charity which he is involved with. They support, The Great North Air Ambulance, Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, The Dementia Care Foundation and The Teenage Cancer Trust.
Connor has set a goal to walk 20 miles in March. To some this may not seem a lot but for Connor this would be a huge achievement. At the moment Connor is unstable and needs some support from others whilst walking, he can only withstand 5-10 minute bouts of exercise without needing a rest. We see improvements everyday but Connor is determined to improve his balance, coordination and strength and we hope to see a huge difference by the end.
This fundraiser will definitely give him the motivation he needs to get out of his bed and get moving.
Connor really does have a heart of gold, he has the funniest sense of humour and has made everyone’s life so much easier during his treatment with his attitude.
Connor lost the use of his right leg a couple of weeks after his diagnosis due to tumour growth in his spine causing spinal compression. He underwent initial brain surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible from his brain, this left Connor unable to speak properly, walk, coordinate his hand movements and double vision. He then went onto have emergency radiotherapy to shrink the tumours in his spine as fast as possible. This came with the risk of paralysis or spinal damage but we had no choice to save Connors life. Thankfully this worked and he was able to continue with a further 6 weeks of high dose radiotherapy. This treatment was extremely harsh on Connor, and a real test of his endurance and strength to get through it.
In the course of this time he started to have seizures and was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, the ventricles in his brain were blocked. He had to have a shunt fitted in his brain which drains fluid away directly into his stomach. This has since blocked numerous times. He has had a total of 10 operations in 8 months.
Following the radiotherapy treatment he then went on to have high dose chemotherapy. This has been very tough on Connor, both mentally and physically. He had a very long stay in hospital, approximately 4 months. Due to Covid only myself and his Dad could be with him and not at the same time, we had to keep swapping over.
The treatment destroyed his bone marrow so each time he has had to have a bone marrow transplant using his own Stem cells which were harvested before treatment began. During the 3rd round his body could not take anymore and he went into heart failure. Connor was intubated and in an induced coma whilst they stabilised him. It was decided the risks were too great to continue with this treatment so he has now been put on a tablet form of chemotherapy drug for 6 months which isn’t as harsh. He has just completed the 5th month with only 1 more cycle to go.
All of the children and families we have met along this journey are truly amazing. I’m not sure where the strength and resilience of people comes from but when you’re faced with this you don’t have any choice but to deal with it head on and get through it day by day.
I am hoping that by telling Connors story we can raise awareness of childhood cancers and raise a good amount of money for his chosen charities and to get Connors fitness levels and strength back up.
Any amount of money is greatly appreciated. Thank you x.
Organizer
Clair Todd
Organizer
England
