Theo’s Story
Theo was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma at just four years old. A tumour was found in his kidneys with secondary tumours in his skull, shoulders, chest, hip bones, thigh bones as well as spreading to his bone marrow. Theo’s Mum, Jess share’s his story…
Theo is a kind, caring, funny, loving and sweetest little boy ever. My heart is absolutely broken that this is happening to him and I would do anything in the world to trade places.
I started to suspect something was wrong when Theo began to have severe leg pain and couldn't bear weight on his legs at school. I was continuously taking him to the doctors and hospital but they would always send me away saying that nothing was wrong. This went on for three months.
Finally, after an ultrasound on his stomach, they found a tumour.
After diagnosis, Theo was put on a plan of treatment that would last around 18-months. This would include high dosage chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and then immunotherapy.
Theo’s fifth birthday was very different from any of his birthdays before. We spent the day in hospital but made it as special as possible with a Spiderman themed celebration. Theo even got to meet Spiderman.
However, after chemotherapy, Theo's immune system was completely non-existent. He developed four different infections and this led to septic shock. This is when things went extremely down hill, very fast. Theo was really struggling to breathe, so a breathing tube was put in and Theo went into an induced coma.
From there Theo got multiple organ failure and filled with fluid everywhere. His body was completely shutting down. He was on every single bit of support possible, at maximum level to keep him alive; a dialysis machine, oscillator for his lungs vibrating his body, multiple blood pressure meds and a long list of other meds.
At this stage I was told there was nothing more they could do, his heart could stop at any minute and every single thing was progressively getting worse, it was a matter of time waiting for him to pass away.
This was the most unbearable, terrifying experience of my entire life. The trauma I went through seeing my child like that, planning things no mother should ever have to. I kept being told he would most likely not make it, he developed a lot of other problems as side effects of the amount of support he was on and organ failure. His liver took a hit and his bilirubin was severely high, creating a big question mark around his future treatment wise.
Then miraculously Theo started to turn a corner. Theo pulled out his own breathing tube. This could’ve gone seriously wrong, but he started breathing for himself. He knew he was ready, he knew he could do it, he has proved every single doctor and consultant wrong against all odds.
Theo has shown nothing but strength and fight, being in intensive care.
He is a MIRACLE , the strongest, bravest, biggest fighter. He is the definition of having hope, even when you’re being presented with all this evidence of only one outcome. I had to not give up, remain hopeful, and believe in him. The feeling of seeing him awake and speak for the first time, the first hug is unforgettable. Something that was looking impossible to ever experience again, the feeling is indescribable.
Theo is finally back on the cancer ward after defying all the odds and is ready to continue his fight. There is a long road ahead and we won't be restarting his cancer treatment right away but we are taking all these positive little steps and milestones that we never thought only a couple of weeks ago were possible. Theo is incredible and I have never witnessed such strength and fight, especially in someone who is only 5 years old.
