PARENTS’ PLEA FOR TODDLER IN CANCER BATTLE
T HE family of a toddler diagnosed with a rare form of cancer just days before Christmas are appealing for help to access specialist treatment in America.
Two-year-old Jacob Jones was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma and has been given just a 34% chance of survival.
He is currently undergoing chemotherapy, but his family are trying to raise £250,000 for innovative treatment they hope can help him.
Jacob, from Ebbw Vale, was first taken to hospital after his parents noticed his stomach was swelling and he had signs of constipation.
Further tests revealed a 14cm tumour on his kidney.
Jacob’s dad Alwyn Jones, 33, said doctors diagnosed him with neuroblastoma – a rare cancer which carries a high chance of relapse after the tumour is removed.
After relapse the chances of surviving the condition are significantly reduced.
Specialist treatment known as difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) aims to prevent relapse but is not available on the NHS.
So the family launched their appeal to raise £250,000 to help him access the treatment in America.
“His birthday was on Monday,” Alwyn said. “He was two on Monday. So he’s spent Christmas and his birthday in hospital. He’s had it all thrown at him.”
Mr Jones said it had been a difficult few months for him and Jacob’s mother, 28 year-old Emma Williams.
“It has been terrible for me and Emma – our lives have literally been turned upside down,” he said.
“We were looking like zombies for the first few weeks, we hadn’t had any sleep. It has been a nightmare.”
He added that it was difficult for Jacob’s siblings – Lowri, nine, Dewi, 10, and Honey, 10 – to visit him in hospital, where he is likely to be staying for the next six months because of the risk of infection.
“They are not doing too good,” he said. “Their little brother is in hospital and it’s hard for all of them.”
The family are now awaiting the results of further tests carried out on Wednesday to determine if the cancer has spread but they are not expected to be returned until next week.
They hope that another two-and-ahalf-month round of chemotherapy will reduce the size of the tumour enough to allow surgeons to operate.
If this is successful Alwyn said they will then be considering taking Jacob for treatment in America.
The family have started a JustGiving page to raise the £250,000 they say they will need to access the treatment.
Alwyn said he has been “overwhelmed” by the support they have received so far, with more than £1,500 raised in just a few days.
To donate visit bit.ly/jacobsfund