Ben

Ben’s story  

Ben Thomas Lee was born on 28th September 2009. He weighed a healthy 9 lb 7 oz and immediately acquired the nickname Big Ben! He gave his first smile at four weeks old and people never failed to comment upon what an ‘easy’ baby he was to his mum, Helen. Helen and dad, Steven, felt their little family was complete with two strapping boys. 

In late November 2010, when Ben was 14 months old, he became irritable, began sleeping badly and had a poor appetite. His parents noticed that he appeared to have two very faint black eyes. They put this down to teething, a bump on the nose and the fact that his big brother, Max, had tonsillitis. A quick trip to the doctors and a course of antibiotics was prescribed for what appeared to be an ear, nose and throat infection. 

However, Ben’s condition deteriorated, and the GP immediately referred him to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. Ben was tested and just about to be discharged when the consultant decided to examine Ben’s abdomen, discovering an enlarged liver.  

Ben was diagnosed with neuroblastoma and his parents were told that he had a 50% chance of survival. At diagnosis, Ben's tumour measured 11cm. The consultant explained how aggressive the cancer was and how the treatment had to be aggressive too. Ben immediately received a blood and platelet transfusion as well as extensive tests. 

Brave Ben went through more than 15 blood and platelet transfusions, a five-hour surgery to remove the primary tumour, had another stay in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, four days of stem cell harvesting and stem cell reinfusion. He was given 70 days of intensive chemotherapy and had extensive and regular invasive tests—during one test, Ben’s lungs collapsed in theatre, and he ended up in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. 

During the first day of high-dose chemotherapy, Ben began having some very high temperatures. After an ultrasound, it was confirmed that Ben had relapsed. Ben left hospital on 26th June but went back every day the following week for various tests. Ben’s bone marrow test seemed to show both solid and liquid samples were free of cancer. The tests suggested that there was no detectable disease other than tumour recurrence at the primary site.  

The family hoped that Ben could receive immunotherapy treatment after further radiotherapy but were dealt the devastating news that Ben’s cancer had progressed to a terminal stage. 

On 1st July 2011, Ben went home to be surrounded by love and to spend time with his family. His doctors did not think he would live for more than a day or two, but with the help of big brother Max, Big Ben battled on for 6 more weeks. During this time, Ben, Max, Helen and Steven spent every minute they could together as a family. 

Ben Lee passed away on 8th August 2011. 

_{Donations made in loving memory of children} 

_{Funds raised in loving memory of Ben will be used to support other children like Ben and their families through Solving Kids' Cancer UK's activities. Any funds raised through a previous fundraising campaign for access to treatment which were not spent on the child's treatment and pastoral needs are used to support other children and families through Solving Kids' Cancer UK's activities.}