Friday 22 October 2010

Alfe's Story


Alfe during treatment


Alfe is a ten year old boy from Northampton.


In September 2009 he was diagnosed with B cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and spent the next 8 months receiving chemotherapy to treat the cancerous tumour.


Alfe had always been an energetic child. At the end of the summer holidays we began to notice that he was tiring easily, wanted to sleep more often and had gone off food. He had also randomly woken in the night crying because of pains in his legs.
Concerned that he wasn’t well we took him to the Dr’s who diagnosed a viral infection. During the next few days Alfe’s symptoms grew progressively worse, we noticed a vein protruding from his chest and he began to make a clicking sound when he breathed.


After returning to the Dr’s, he was sent directly to hospital where tests were carried out and his parents were told to be prepared for something like Leukaemia. The next day Alfe was transferred to Birmingham Children’s hospital where we were told he had B Cell Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and would need to start chemotherapy.
As the tumour was very aggressive it began squashing Alfe’s lungs and distending his stomach. He had to be on oxygen to support his breathing and morphine to help manage the pain. By Friday Alfe was moved to Intensive care where he was ventaliated. It was during this time that we didn’t know if we would even be bringing Alfe home. Thankfully the following Thursday Alfe was allowed to join the main Oncology ward and began making friends with children who also had forms of cancer. Those friends became and remain like our extended family now.


From September 2009, Alfe spent a lot of time in hospital due to infections because of low or no immunity, one of the side effects of chemotherapy.

In December 2009 Alfe got an infection in his Hickman line, (a special line inserted into his chest for chemotherapy to be administered) and on Christmas eve went down to theatre to have the line removed. At midnight a drowsy Alfe was awoken by Santa delivering presents to children on the ward. Although we weren’t able to spend Christmas day at home, getting a visit from Santa really lifted his spirits.


A year on Alfe was in a position, after going into remission in July 2010, to help other children who are sick.

Alfe began by designing 2 Christmas cards and one of his friends designed another two to sell in a pack and raise money to buy gifts for children who were spending Christmas in Northampton General Hospital and for two of his friends who have relapsed with Leukaemia.
He sold nearly 300 packs and raised around £400. 

With the support of Kingsthorpe ASDA,  Alfe was able to sell his Christmas cards during a weekend in December and organised a toy appeal at the shop. He then delivered the toys to the children's wards at the hospital.

4 comments:

  1. What an absolute star!

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  2. Alfe will be on Radio Northampton promoting his cards next week.

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  3. I think we saw this little boy at NGH in May when we were admitted with our newborn baby (severe jaundice, but well now). My husband and I both remarked on how bubbly he was! We will certainly be attending the ASDA event and buying packs of the Christmas cards. Keep up the good work, Alfe - you are an inspiration :)

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  4. what a wounderfull ending, Kingsthopre asda are helpping The HARVEY FUN DAY ON THE 16TH, where you can meet me and my friends, where we will be giving flyers out for our event on the 17th at pinkladys kingsthopre at 12, These storys with the children and cancer, so many i hear, only 10 weeks ago my eyes opend to this, as my friends son age 2 has lung cancer 23 cm tumour, heartbreaking reading her fb posts, i feel all i can do is to raise money for them, Thank you for you call today, i would love to give your son a big, hug, and in time if you every need my help in any way, fundraiseing please fb me sara smith or inspirednailsandbeauty. xxxxx

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