Marley, aged 4. Third Cancer - One last treatment

Hi everyone, my name is Sara and I’m fundraising in the name of my friend Shaunna. I met Shaunna on the BCH Children’s cancer ward at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Both of our children were going through treatment for cancer when we met and from the day we met, we’ve been very good friends.

Shaunna’s little boy Marley, was first diagnosed on 29/12/2022. Marley went through 6 months of chemotherapy and in July 2023, Marley & his family were told he was in remisssion and his treatment had worked well.

Marley was well in himself up until April 2024. Between July 2023 & April 2024 Marley lived a mostly normal life where his parents encouraged him to live as normally as possible, he dealt with sore legs and tiredness but other than that the entire family done amazingly well at moving on with life and making the most of every moment. And Marley was able to enjoy the most typical parts of childhood like parks, soft plays, nature centres etc.

In April 2024, after being in remission for 11 months, Marley had a routine check up, and during that check up he had a routine blood test, which showed certain levels in his bloods had dropped to worrying amounts - after some investigation, Marley’s family were told he had relapsed. Meaning he had cancer for the second time by the age of 3 years old.

Marley went on to have a stem cell transplant (which as an oncology mom who’s lived in this world for 8 years - that is 100% in my opinion, the most brutal treatment any child can go through)

Marley struggled an incredible amount, both physically and mentally, as did his mom Shaunna, dad James & his sister Ava. Marley had some horrific days, where we didn’t know what the outcome of this treatment would be. Marley was isolated in a single room on a hospital ward where only his parents could visit him for months on end, because Marley was such high risk to catching infections amongst other things. So he had to be completely isolated from the rest of the world.

Marley had his new cells transplanted to him in July 2024 and completed his stem cell transplant treatment in September 2024, but he was severely poorly during & whilst recovering from his transplant. And the fact he could have no visitors including his own father or sister because it was just too dangerous to him to allow anyone near him in case he caught any type of infection.

Marley was finally allowed home in September 2024, where he had to isolate for a further 2 months.

Since leaving hospital and recovering Marley has been living his best life, visiting the park lots, visiting farms, and he’s even been abroad for the first time ever. Marley and his family have been making the most of their freedom since they were allowed to calm down the isolation rules for Marley. And he’s even recently started nursery school!

In March 2025, his family were told his cancer residue amount was rising. And for the last 3 months we have known Marley’s very high risk of relapsing again. Every single month has been a battle of putting Marley through more tests & investigations and the worry of ‘is this the month he relapses?’

Marley’s parents have done an incredible job of keeping their heads up for their children, when their hearts have been breaking, knowing what’s very likely coming. As much as the family have tried to get on, how much can you get on with life with that hanging over your head and heart constantly.

We have now been told that Marley has officially relapsed, his most recent Bone Marrow Aspirate procedure has confirmed our biggest fear and Marley’s cancer is returning for the third time. Due to how aggressive Marley’s cancer is, he now only has one chance of being cured, one more treatment they can try. And that’s to have another Stem Cell Transplant, which he has already had done. The family have already gone through the horrific ordeal of a transplant, and now they’re having to face it again, it’s their only option. Marleys type of Leukemia is particularly reluctant to this type of treatment but it’s the only treatment available to him. To try and cure him.

Please help Marley and his family make precious memories whilst they can. In around 4 weeks time Marley will be isolated in a single hospital room again to start the whole Stem Cell Transplant process all over again. He’ll be separated from his sister, dad & mom at times. He will be taking numerous medications, he’ll be having multiple surgeries and procedures, he will have a central line inserted again that hugely limits his life amongst other things, he will very likely have an NG tube fitted again to feed him through, as he won’t be able to tolerate eating. Marley is about to go through a horrific time, as are his family.

Please help us to help Marley’s family have some very much needed special moments in life, please help his family to have some special time together. Marley’s mom has just recently had to give up work so she can be there for Marley 100%. Meaning Marley’s dad is the sole finance provider for the family now. So please, if you’re able to help us take some of the financial stress away from them, then please do. If you aren’t able to donate, then please share. Let’s help Marley’s family make some beautiful new memories together. Any money raised will be used to support the family in making memories with Marley before he goes back into hospital to start his isolation and anything extra will be used to support them however it feels helpful to them.

Thankyou to all who can help us,

We are so grateful xxx