Austin’s a walking miracle
NINE-YEAR-OLD WALKING MIRACLE IS FIRST CHILD TO REACH ONE YEAR CANCER FREE AFTER TREATMENT
SCHOOLBOY Austin Sweeney is a walking miracle.
Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the age of two, he’s battled death as he suffered multiple relapses, went through umpteen rounds of chemotherapy, two bone marrow transplants and total body radiotherapy.
Due to many severe side effects from the chemotherapy, medics believed there was nothing more they could do and Austin was sent home to die.
But miraculously he survived and now he is the first child in the UK to reach one year cancer free by using genetically-engineered T Cells to fight Leukaemia.
And to celebrate he has taken part in Cancer Research UK’s (CRUK) latest advert campaign to tell other families there is potential light at the end of their dark tunnels.
His proud parents, Louise Gibson and Scott Sweeney, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, say their son’s story is ‘amazing’ and gives hope to others.
Louise, a teacher at Whitley Bay High School, said: “Austin is nine years old and has battled cancer for seven years. In 2011 he was diagnosed with leukaemia and since then he has suffered multiple relapses resulting in many rounds of intense chemotherapy, two bone marrow transplants and total body radiotherapy.
“He has had all the awful side effects that go with chemo, including a few life-threatening illnesses resulting in time in ICU with a severe bacterial infection.
“The damage was so severe that Austin had to learn to walk again. After the sec- o n d relapse, his little body could not fight any more and he was blessed by a priest. We were sent home. I will never forget walking out of that hospital, everyone said their goodbyes and some staff couldn’t watch. “We were told he might not last the journey home.” Austin’s sister Lottie was packed off to her grandparents’ while Louise says the rest of them camped out in the lounge. Austin couldn’t walk or breathe properly so he wore a mask attached to oxygen tanks. Louise said: “Every time he went into a coughing fit we thought we would lose him. Lots of morphine controlled his pain. Nights were sleepless with worry, wondering if Austin would see another day. One coughing fit was so bad and breathes were so laboured, I told him he could leave us now. “Words can’t explain the miracle of morning and seeing Austin still with us. I saw a glimmer of a smile and then I thought we still had a chance and that we must have as much fun as possible. “To this day, no-one can believe how he survived that. Some believe it was a miracle.” Austin had pioneering immunotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital but this time it was his own white blood cells that were genetically modified to attack the cancer. And six weeks after treatment in isolation, he emerged from hospital free from any signs of the disease. “He is the first child in the UK to reach the one-year mile stone using only geneticallymodified cells and be blood cancer free,” Louise said. Austin, who won a Brave-
heart award in 2014, has never stopped battling and is back enjoying life at Whitley Lodge First School.
And it was the first time in seven years he and his family enjoyed a normal Christmas.
Louise said: “Austin is thriving and so happy. He’s back to school and at last doing all the things that boys do.
“Austin should provide that beacon of hope for all families who are currently going through this gruelling treatment.
“Advances in research for blood cancers are happening right now and the CRUK campaign is there to raise awareness and help improve treatment options.
“This charity, together with the amazing staff at the RVI and Great Ormond Street Hospital, have all helped to keep my son alive.”
CRUK’s ‘Right Now’ campaign urges people to take immediate action to help more people survive the disease.
The charity’s powerful and emotive TV ads show real patients undergoing cancer treatment one to two years ago followed up by current home videos showing how research has helped them get back to enjoying life.
Lisa Millett, CRUK spokesperson for the North East, said: “There are many moments which encapsulate a person’s cancer journey and our Right Now campaign aims to show both the realities of the disease and the positive impact research can have on a cancer patient’s journey.
“Thanks to research, more people are surviving the disease than ever before. Survival has doubled in the last 40 years in the UK and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.”