Family fundraiser in aid of brave Shaun
● home with oral and IV chemotherapy via his central line in his chest daily, and weekly hospital visits, which was during the lead-up to his 16th birthday.”
In September he was readmitted to hospital to begin Full Body Irradiation, which included intensive chemotherapy over two days, then three days of two 30-minute sessions of full body radiation at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.
This was to wipe out his immune system in preparation for the bone marrow transplant which his older sister Rebecca, 23, was a match for, and who had agered to be his donor.
Tracy Garner said: “Shaun had the transplant two days after his 16 birthday, on September 19 which meant he was extremely ill the day of his birthday from the previous five days of chemotherapy and radiation.
“The transplant worked and up to now has rid him of the leukaemia, however he now has yet another bat- tle on his hands.
“He has been suffering with what is called Graft Versus Host Disease, which is when the transplanted donor stem cells are rejecting his body.
“In Shaun’s case they are in fact attacking all of his body and up to now the doctors are struggling to get on top of this.”
Recently Shaun’s medication was stopped, as the anti-rejection drugs that help fight the disease have begun to attack his kidneys, forcing him to spend yet more time in hospital.
His mother said: “The future of how to treat him is currently unknown, we are allowing Shaun’s kidneys to recover for the next few weeks.
“Unfortunately, the Graft Versus Host Disease has reared its ugly head again with a vengeance while his kidneys are recovering, so at the minute he is in a Catch- 22 situation.
“He needs the anti-rejection drugs, but his kidneys are struggling when taking them.”
“This illness has stolen so much from my son, not just in time and him missing out on so much of his childhood, but the toll its taken on his body, the short and long term effects both physically and emotionally on him, the school time he has missed, including the last 12 months, meaning he was unable to complete his final year in high school and sit his GCSEs.
“However his aspiration and hope is to be able to return to school this coming academic year and study hard to be able to sit his GCSEs in sixth form.
“He is struggling with his self-confidence, he doesn’t want to go out when he is really poorly, especially in his wheelchair, just in case he sees someone he knows.
“He even withdraws from family and friends during his more difficult periods and this in itself is heartbreaking to see as Shaun has such a powerful, loving and caring nature and personality, where everyone warms to him instantly.”
The family are now fundraising to put a smile on the face of the brave teenager.
“I don’t want to have to raise money in memory of him,’’ Mrs Garner said.
“I would like to give him something special to look forward to for him to keep wanting to fight to overcome all of this and to be able to experience something truly amazing at the end of his battles.”
The fundraising event will raise funds for Shaun to go on a once-in-alifetime holiday to a destination of his choosing in December, that has already been heavily contributed to by the Give Kids The World charity.
The Garners have to fundraise around £1,000 as a support fee paid to the charity, as well as his flight and travel insurance costs.
Anything left over will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust. ●
Mrs Garner said: “The event will consist of fun activities for all the family in the day – bouncy castle, large outdoor games area, sweetshop, upand-coming local D.J with music, cake sale, tombola.
“In the evening a D.J and local musicians/artists will perform live music, dancing, an auction, bingo, play your cards right and a buffet.
“The highlight of the event is Shaun’s sister – his donor – who is doing the Brave The Shave and shaving all her hair off live and donating it to the Little Princess Trust, to be witnessed by all who attend.”
Aside from the fundraising event Shaun’s uncle, Graham Dodd, 40, will be completing an 8,000ft parachute jump to raise further funds.
The Garners want to thank The Bridgewater Bar, Club Bingo 2000 and friends with local businesses who will each get a special ‘thank-you’ after the event, and the Halton community who have helped a great deal.
Mrs Garner added: “Every donation is greatly appreciated and we as a family thank you immensely.”