Kyle’s story
Kyle was born in March 2012, a normal, healthy baby. He achieved his developmental milestones and was a very happy, healthy toddler until November 2013.
His mum Nyree’s first concern was a slight turn in his eye, which was examined by a specialist who found no problems. Towards the end of November 2013, Kyle began to go off his food and bruising appeared around one of his eyes, but it was thought that he had hit himself with a toy.
Further bruising appeared, and when he was reluctant to stand one morning, his parents took him to hospital. The hospital diagnosed anaemia and prescribed iron with a follow-up in two weeks. A couple of days later, Kyle’s condition worsened, and he was taken to Glasgow Yorkhill Hospital and admitted.
After a series of investigations, Kyle was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. He commenced Rapid COJEC treatment.
Throughout this treatment Kyle maintained his happy cheery nature and always had a smile for everyone.
Kyle had follow-up scans but had not cleared sufficient disease to proceed to surgery so went onto a chemotherapy regimen consisting of Topotecan-Vincristine-Doxorubicin known as TVD. Unfortunately, TVD was not successful, and the disease had become more widespread. Kyle was accepted onto the BEACON Trial.
Throughout it all, Kyle accepted the treatment he received, and the hospital became his second home. He looked forward to weekend visits from his brother, Jamie, and his Granny and Grandpa. His mum, and Aunty Belinda, stayed at the hospital and when he had good spells, took him to the park to feed the ducks and play on the swings. Kyle loved his 'blankie' and was never parted from it. He also loved “Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star” being sung to him after his bedtime story, which was always “The Three Little Pigs”.
After one round on the BEACON Trial, it was clear that Kyle was not responding as he developed swelling on his eye and was in a lot of pain. An MRI revealed further tumour presence, with a large tumour behind his eye which needed urgent radiotherapy.
Kyle attended hospital daily for five rounds of radiotherapy treatment. When the family were told that the disease was so aggressive that there were no other treatment options available to Kyle, they decided that Kyle should be at home with his family.
Once at home, Kyle and his family spent days at the park, visiting the zoo, playing in his garden playhouse, trying to lead a normal life.
Kyle very rapidly deteriorated and had increased pain killer requirements. The family returned to the hospital a couple of days later where he was admitted for further scans, which revealed more disease with new tumour presence in his spine and skull.
He passed away on 13th June in the arms of his parents.