Sam
Sam received the amazing news that he had no evidence of neuroblastoma in 2014. Since then, he has been living life to the max!
Sam’s story
Sam’s initial symptoms were very vague and came and went over several months until they seriously escalated. After initial tests that showed abnormalities, Sam was referred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for more tests, with suspected rheumatoid arthritis. By this time, he was unable to walk. An ultrasound investigation found fluid on his hips and then the tumour in Sam’s adrenal gland was discovered.
“As a parent, all you want is to protect your child and see them grow up healthy and happy. Sam’s diagnosis left us feeling completely helpless in the face of this terrible disease that had taken over our little boy’s body."
Christine, Sam’s mum
Treatment
Sam went through so much; a procedure to have a central line inserted into his main artery to allow chemotherapy to be administered, countless X-rays, ultrasounds, gamma scans, echo cardiograms, ECG’s, MIBG scans, CT scans, biopsies, daily injections, the insertion of a nasal gastric feeding tube as well as regular examinations, blood pressure checks, thumb pricks and more.
In the first few weeks following his diagnosis, little Sam was very poorly. His parents could only watch and witness how the challenging treatment knocked the stuffing out of him. Christine said, “Sam lost weight rapidly before our very eyes and we felt our little boy slipping away, but then he showed us what a fighter he is! Sam started to put weight back on, and we felt that our happy, cheeky, energetic little boy, so full of character, had returned to us."
"At every stage he was amazingly courageous – the doctors and nurses couldn’t believe how brave he was. He hardly ever cried, took his medicines on his own with no fuss and he was the best ‘sleeping lion’ when it came to CT scans. He is just our amazing hero.”
Christine, Sam’s mum
Desperate to get Sam to the United States for potentially life-saving treatment, family and friends launched the Sam Shaw Appeal with Solving Kids' Cancer UK, successfully raising £250,000 for pioneering immunotherapy treatment.
These funds allowed Sam to access anti-GD2 immunotherapy through a clinical trial in the US in 2013, at a time when it was not a part of standard NHS treatment.
Remission and growing up
Sam received the amazing news that he had no evidence of neuroblastoma in 2014. Since then, he has been living life to the max!
He's now 14 years-old and it is almost ten years since he finished treatment.
Solving Kids' Cancer UK's children's fundraising campaigns
Sam's fundraising campaign for access to treatment raised £293,876. Funds raised through a child's fundraising campaign are spent on their treatment and pastoral needs. Any remaining funds, and all funds raised after five years post the end of the child's treatment, are used to support other children and families through Solving Kids' Cancer UK's activities.