My Eli is a real-life superhero
A HUDDERSFIELD mum has spoken of the brave fight her three-year-old son is putting up after being diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia.
Naomi Lashington, 26, said it felt like her, “heart had been ripped out,” when Eli was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia a year ago.
The “‘funny and happy” boy, who, “always has a smile on his face,” has undergone some form of chemotherapy every day since.
But, Naomi said: “Despite everything he always has a smile on his face.
“He’s a real life superhero and I’m so proud of him.”
He is given doses of cancer fighting drugs orally at home every day, while every month he goes to Leeds General Infirmary for more intense bouts and every 12 weeks is put to sleep for chemotherapy targeted at his spine.
The result is that he is often exhausted to the point he struggles with walking and his immune system is so weakened that he is unable to take part in normal children’s activities like swimming, soft play centres or even going to nursery.
Also, as a result of the chemotherapy Eli’s hair has fallen out twice in the past 12 months.
Doctors have told Naomi he will need to continue treatment until 2023, finishing the day before his sixth birthday.
Naomi, from Springwood, has a Masters in psychology from the University of Huddersfield and was forced to give up her dream job as an assistant psychologist she had just started on the day Eli was diagnosed.
She recalled the moment they received the devastating news: “He is my only child and when they told me he had leukaemia I thought it meant that he would die.
“I was just in disarray, I still am to be honest.
“He’s in remission now but he has to have chemo until 2023 to stop it coming back. He could relapse at any point.”
Naomi and Eli have been supported by fellow patients, their families and staff at LGI, as well as Yorkshire charity Candlelighters.
Naomi wants to raise money for Candlelighters by shaving off her hair, which can be turned into a wig for a young girl.