Nathan was given a Bead of Courage each time he had treatment for leukaemia.. now he’s got 1500
Scheme helps family through cancer ordeal
PROUDLY clutching his Beads of Courage, Nathan Mowat shows just how far he has come in his battle with leukaemia.
The brave seven-year-old from Gourock, Renfrewshire, has endured countless procedures and rounds of medication during more than three years of treatment as part of a clinical trial.
With each injection, round of chemotherapy or blood transfusion, he has earned a new memento to add to his string, which is now 60ft long and holds more than 1500 beads.
It’s a symbol of his courage which makes his mum Gillian incredibly proud.
She said: “They tell his story in a unique way. They show how far Nathan has come and exactly how much he’s been through.
“The Beads of Courage programme has been invaluable. Not only for Nathan but for me too.
“It gave me a focus, a distraction. They have got me through many a night in hospital, filling out the card, collecting the beads, putting them on and taking them off again.”
Today, the family share Nathan’s story in support of the Schiehallion Appeal – a bid to bring more clinical trials to Scotland for young cancer and blood disorder patients.
The campaign, led by the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity and backed by the Daily Record, aims to vastly expand the current trials centre at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
As Nathan nears the end of his trial, the findings may be used to save the lives of other sick youngsters in the future.
In return, trials yet to be tested may hold the key to one day finding his cure.
Nathan was three when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – an aggressive cancer of the white blood cells.
He was pale and had been suffering high temperatures, nosebleeds and night sweats as well as complaining of pains in his chest, tummy and legs.
Gillian said: “There were other signs that I now know as symptoms of leukaemia but at the time I was unaware of these, as so many parents are.
“Cancer never crossed my mind. I was so naive. I thought he was anaemic and maybe needed some iron. If one person thinks, ‘It might be cancer’ after reading this, that’s possibly a life saved.”
Nathan began treatment at the former Yorkhill hospital in Glasgow after being diagnosed.
Gillian, who also has daughter Annabel, five, with husband Paul, 41, said: “I can’t put into words what we as a family felt – shock, fear, despair don’t seem to really cover it. It is worse than your worst nightmare, a rollercoaster ride you can’t get off.”
Nathan endured a string of procedures over nine months, including 10 different cocktails of chemotherapies, six bone marrow procedures, three surgeries, 22 lumber punctures and 16 blood and platelet transfusions – earning a bead of courage for every step.
He lost his hair twice but the family say the Schiehallion ward – the cancer wards at the Royal Hospital for Children – made the process bearable. Gillian said: “On the ward we found hope, love and laughter, friendship, strength and support.
“We met real-life superheroes every day.
“We can’t thank all the hospital staff and volunteers enough for all of their expertise, knowledge and care, for the cuddles and the support and friendship through one of the hardest and darkest parts of our lives.
“Nathan has shown incredible strength, resilience and bravery. He has given us the strength to get through this.”
Nathan is at a “maintenance” stage of treatment but still takes chemotherapy drugs and other medication every day.
He is due to finish his treatment in January but his family don’t know what the future will hold.
Gillian said: “It’s certainly not the end for us. I worry every day, ‘Is it coming back? Are there bruises? Is he looking tired?’ I do the same with Annabel.
“It will be with us now throughout our lives but we are looking forward to moving on to some extent and will take our lead from Nathan and will not let this define us.”
The family hope that by supporting Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity in their bid to raise £500,000 to fund clinical trials, children in Scotland will have better access to the best treatment possible in the future.
Gillian said: “Much more awareness and research is badly needed. We hope by being part of a trial, we will be able to help someone else. If someone hadn’t done it for us then where would we be?”