Ryan's story

When Ryan was diagnosed with cancer, he was just two years old. He had been having headaches, and one day it just got unbearable for him. “He was screaming due to the headaches and couldn’t even crawl, let alone walk, ” said his mum, Alex.

The hospital did a scan at first, thinking it was an ear infection. But it showed a tumour the size of a golf ball at the back of his head. The next day Ryan was in hospital having a delicate operation to drain the fluid from around his tumour. A week later, an operation took place to remove the tumour.

“Ryan was in surgery for seven hours, the longest hours of my life”, said Alex. But this was just the start of treatment that lasted for months. Next came chemotherapy every two weeks, then blood transfusions and radiotherapy.

Alex told us: “Because of Ryan’s illness I decided to become a blood donor. I worked out that it would take me seven and a half years to replenish what Ryan has used so far during his transfusions”.

How did CLIC Sargent help?

Dean and Alex stayed at one of CLIC Sargent’s Homes from Home, next to the hospital in which Ryan was being treated – so they could be close to him - and save the cost of travelling to and from the hospital,  or the expense of staying in a B&B.

“It’s good for Ryan’s dad and myself, as we meet other parents in the same situation. And when Ryan gets some time away from the ward he loves playing with other children. No-one stares if your child has lost their hair, or has a tube in their chest, as we are all in the same boat”, said Alex.

“Mummy and daddy stay in a house near the hospital. When I go there I play with cars, and I have my own bed”, said Ryan

Children can be on treatment for months at a time, if not years. Often one parent has to give up work to be with their child. So any financial savings – on travel and accommodation – really do make a significant difference.