|
Family’s heartache as leukaemia strikes son The mother
of a toddler suffering from a severe form of leukaemia has spoken of her
heartache since discovering the devastating news less than three months
ago.
Patrick Roots, aged three, was diagnosed with the childhood cancer just
a few weeks before Christmas.
He has already undergone daily doses of chemotherapy and has just returned
home having spent three weeks in isolation in the Luton and Dunstable
Hospital in Bedfordshire.
In the meantime his mum Cathy is heavily pregnant and due to give birth
to her second child any day now.
She spoke to The Irish Post about how she and her husband Steve have had
to cope with caring for a sick child while preparing themselves for the
new baby on the way.
Cathy, whose mum hails from Galway and dad is from Mayo, said: “It’s
been a very stressful few months for us and especially for Patrick.
“The chemotherapy is very tough on him.
“He’s losing weight and he has lost all his hair.
“He’s getting the highest doses of treatment possible for
a child and he’s very sick with it.”
Doctors diagnosed the condition in November last year after his parents
noticed a rash on his body.
They rushed him straight to their local hospital thinking he was suffering
from meningitis.
But doctors thought otherwise and Patrick was immediately transferred
to the Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge where the cancer was diagnosed.
It was a bolt out of the blue for the close-knit family.
Cathy, 31, said: “It really was a total shock. It is a constant
struggle for us to have to cope with this.
“Steve is an electrician and has to go out to earn money to pay
the bills.
“I’ve had to give up my job as a legal secretary to look after
Patrick full-time.
“With the visits to hospitals every day it’s taking its toll
on finances among other things.”
Luckily Luton’s Irish community is rallying around the Roots family
and a benefit dance in their honour has been organised.
The Mayo Association is holding the dance on March 1 with all proceeds
going to the family.
Association chair Eamon Dixon wants to encourage people to buy tickets
or donate to the fund.
He said: “It’s such a sad story. I just hope that we can help
in some small way.
“It’s tough for a young family to have to cope with such bad
news.
“I am urging people to support this event.”
Patrick is now preparing to start a new course of chemotherapy at the
beginning of March, which will help keep the leukaemia at bay.
Those treatments will continue indefinitely.
His parents are praying that his new brother or sister will be a bone
marrow match if doctors need to go down that route in the future.
Worried mum Cathy said: “The new baby will get tested straightaway
so hopefully there may be some light at the end of the tunnel for all
of us.”
n The benefit dance is taking place on March 1 at the Holy Ghost Parish
Centre, Westbourne Road, Luton. Tickets are £3. For further details
contact Eamon on 01582 487815 or 07973 883395. |
