Daily Mirror

Josh beat cancer twice... now he’s off to school

Joy after years of gruelling treatment

- BY LOUIE SMITH h louie.smith@mirror.co.uk @smith_louie

BEAMING Josh Stockhill marches into school yesterday for the first time since beating cancer – twice.

were told ld there was a 50/50 chance he h would make it through the night. We almost lost him at nine months old.”

The chemothera­py lasted nine months and Josh, who has three older brothers and one younger, was initially believed to be in remission.

But at two the cancer returned – meaning a bone marrow transplant was his only hope. After tests showed brother Zach, seven, was incompatib­le, Addenbrook­e’s Hospital in Cambridge launched an global search for a donor.

One in Spain was found and the family relocated to Bristol for eight months to undergo the treatment.

Josh, who attends Leighton Primary School, is recovering well and November will mark two years since his transplant. Kirsty said: “With each milestone he gets better and better. We don’t know what the future holds. But he’s such a jolly child.”

Kirsty spoke during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to urge people to donate blood when they can.

She said: “It’s so important. It was a cord blood donation that saved Josh.”

It is a sight parents Craig Stockhill and Kirsty Knighton never thought they would see after being told he was not expected to survive the night when he was just nine months.

But following years of gruelling treatment, including chemothera­py and a bone marrow transplant, brave Josh looked a picture of happiness as he arrived at the school gates.

IKEA worker Kirsty, 36, said: “I got so emotional when he tried the uniform on. He went in on Tuesday to see his new classroom and meet his teacher, and he’s so excited to start properly. We have seen so many children who have ILL As toddler with disease not made it through our journey. We are so thankful Josh has this chance.”

Four- year- old Josh was first diagnosed with lymphoblas­tic leukaemia at just eight months.

The tot began chemothera­py but within a month he had developed sepsis and ended up in intensive care.

Kirsty, of Peterborou­gh, added: “We

 ??  ?? Josh at school yesterday
HOSPITAL With Kirsty and Craig
Josh at school yesterday HOSPITAL With Kirsty and Craig

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