Family's 'living nightmare' as lump on boy's tummy turns out to be rare cancer
Parents of a three-year-old boy who took him to the doctor thinking he had constipation have described how their lives have turned into a “living nightmare” since discovering he had cancer.
Little Reggie Bebbington was taken to the GP earlier this year after his parents spotted a lump on his belly. Dad Kane Billington said the idea that it could be cancer never crossed his mind, with Reggie’s parents thinking it was nothing more serious than a case of constipation. The GP was unable to identify the problem so Kane took Reggie to the Royal Stoke University Hospital instead.
Doctors at the hospital gave the parents the terrifying news, telling them their little boy was suffering from Wilms cancer. This was followed by a two week hospital stay as medics assessed his condition and planned treatment. Now Reggie, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, has had chemotherapy and had a kidney removed at Birmingham Children's Hospital, StokeonTrentLive reports.
The brave toddler is now awaiting radiotherapy treatment. Mum-of-two Charley Bebbington, 23, said: "Cancer had not crossed my mind. Because of where the lump was, I just thought he might have been a bit constipated or something like that. As a parent, you never think that it could be that until you get told. I can honestly say that finding out what it was has changed my life.
“If something doesn’t feel right, you find any kind of lump, get it checked out. We thought it was something he’d eaten. It turned out it was cancer." Reggie will have to be asleep for his radiotherapy. Charley added: “He will not stay still for the life of him. He doesn't like being prodded and poked. For something so serious he needs to be still and there’s no chance of that if he’s awake.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
“He’s quite clever for his age, he’s very vocal, if he’s in any pain, he can tell us. He doesn’t know why he’s poorly, it’s hard to explain to a three-year-old what cancer is. The staff at both hospitals, I cannot fault them at all. They’re amazing. We’re just taking each week. The furthest we know at the moment is the radiotherapy in a few months time."
Family friend Vikki Flint has set up a JustGiving page to try to help ease the financial pressures on the family. The money will go towards the costs of travelling and staying in Birmingham, plus days out for Reggie when he’s feeling well enough.
Charley added: “I’d like to thank everyone who has participated in it all. As a family we do really appreciate every single person that has donated and helped out as much as they can. We are really grateful for every single penny. When I think back over the past few months, it just still feels like it's not real, that it’s not happening to your child. It’s something I'd never ever wish upon anyone; it's the worst kind of pain you could ever possibly go through. It’s good that we trusted our gut instinct and brought him in when we did. Judging from what it’s been like, we caught it at the right time.”
To donate to the fundraiser, click here.
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