
Treatment
While leukaemia is generally considered treatable, ETP has a very poor prognosis, so doctors advised Micky’s parents to start making happy memories with him.
Micky received high-dose chemotherapy three times a week, and high doses of steroids. He also had blood and platelet transfusions, and daily visits from community nurses. The side effects were especially difficult for him as an 11 year old boy - he gained weight and his blonde hair fell out.
A Big Surprise
Three months into Micky’s treatment, his parents were told his chances of survival were very low and to expect the worst and start making memories. He underwent another bone marrow test and the results were most unexpected… Micky was cancer free!
If the cancer ever came back there would be very little doctors could do, so to prevent a recurrence, Micky had a bone marrow transplant, as well as eight rounds of radiation and another high dose of chemotherapy.
“It was very hard to watch but Micky smiled and joked all the way through, he had strength that made me beam with pride”

A few weeks after his transplant, doctors gave the dreaded news that the transplant wasn’t working and a search for a new donor began. Doctors began testing Micky’s siblings, but before they could go ahead with a second transplant, the first one started to work!
Micky has been in isolation at Great Ormond Street Hospital since November 2018, during which time his weight has dropped to four and a half stone. Though he remains a high risk, doctors are still confident that he has a good chance of recovery.
“Being stuck in isolation has been bleak and heart wrenching. I have never felt so useless as a parent and felt so out of control”

How We Can Help
Regular trips to and from hospital, as well as hospital parking, and food and drink during stays are very expensive. Micky’s diet is very specific, so the cost of food shopping has also increased when he is at home.
Thanks to your support, we will be supporting Micky’s family in any way they need, as well as many other families like them.