9-Year-Old Boy From Cheshire UK Overcomes One Of The Rarest Forms Of Cancer

Mar 21, 2020 by apost team

Saul Hayden, a 9-year-old boy from Rudheath, Cheshire in the United Kingdom, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer that had already spread throughout his body. Thanks to many rounds of chemotherapy and an operation in which surgeons removed his liver, cut out the cancer cells, and put it back, doctors have confirmed there is now no evidence of cancer in Saul's body.

After losing his appetite and getting stomach pains last year, Saul's mother Vicki-Kay Spruce took him to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. Soon after the youngster was diagnosed with a very rare aggressive form of cancer, in which only five of the 53 people who have had the disease globally have survived, according to the Northwich Guardian.

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His mother wrote about Saul's journey: "After multiple scans and invasive biopsies we discovered Saul had a stage 4 malignant rhabdoid tumour of the liver that had already spread to his arteries, up to the heart and metastasized [sic] to his lungs. This is an incredibly rare and aggressive type of cancer with a very poor prognosis and outlook. Saul has already undergone 13 rounds of powerful chemotherapy, 11 rounds of radiotherapy, stem cell harvests, he had multiple infections and even four adult teeth removed at Alder Hey." 

However, positive news arrived after Saul's chemotherapy treatment –– the cancer had shrunk and was now operable. In September last year, at Birmingham Children's Hospital, Saul had a breakthrough operation. Doctors removed his liver, cut out the cancer cells, and put it back inside his body. In the same operation they removed an infected artery and were able to make him a new one from donations.

His mother told the Mirror: "Without the surgery there was no chance for him. They were worried he wouldn't make it at all. I was told one in 10 adults don't survive this type of operation so it was even riskier for him." But at the beginning of this year, after more chemotherapy and radiotherapy to ensure all of the cancer cells were killed off, Saul was given the all clear –– his body was cancer free.

Vicki-Kay wishes for Saul to return to school later this year, but in the meantime she has started a crowdfunding campaign to send him on his dream trip to America. She wrote: "He has dealt with all of this with nothing but smiles and the will to fight. Anything you can do to help keep him smiling and giving him the best quality of life goes a long way." You can donate directly to Saul's Just Giving page here.

What supportive words might you have for Saul and his mother Vicki-Kay? Let us know in the comments down below and pass this touching story on to your family and friends.