Brave brothers together in heartbreaking battle
A MUM is facing her “worst nightmare” after two of her children were diagnosed with cancer within the space of four months.
Keri Redfearn discovered her 10-year-old son Leo had a rare neuroblastoma in October last year.
Then, in a “cruel and terrible blow”, his brother, Oliver, six, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in last month. The boys are now side by side in hospital beds.
Keri, 32, and husband Shaun, 59, from Wakefield, West Yorks, are juggling hospital visits with caring for their youngest child, Isobel, five.
Keri said: “I think it must be every parent’s worst nightmare – to have two children diagnosed is almost unheard of. It’s like the whole world falls out from under you. I think we all just kept hoping it was a mistake.”
Both boys have had to endure gruelling chemotherapy during treatment at Leeds General Infirmary.
Keri said she had to battle with doctors to have Leo tested, after he started having pain in his ribs last February.
She said: “The doctors thought it was an inflammation of the chest muscles and we kept going back.” He was finally diagnosed with stagefour neuroblastoma.
Then, on Christmas Day, Oliver started having pains and lymphoma was confirmed in January.
Keri said the boys keep each other going. “They’re as close as brothers can be. Oliver encourages Leo to take his medicine,” she said.
And she is urging parents to push for tests if they think there is something seriously wrong with their child.
It is every parent’s worst nightmare – two kids diagnosed KERI REDFEARN ON HER SONS’ CANCER BATTLE