Tummy pain turned out to be cancer
YOUNGSTER HAD TO UNDERGO GRUELLING TREATMENT BUT, FOUR YEARS ON, EVAN IS DOING WELL
A MUM has told how her normally healthy son’s “bit of belly ache” turned out to be a cancer.
Evan Gill complained of stomach ache when he returned home from school one day but it developed into so much pain he was doubled over and vomiting. He was taken to hospital and tests revealed he had a tumour in his kidney.
The schoolboy, who lives with his mum Jenny, dad Chris and younger sister Emily in Draycott-in-the-clay, was four when he was diagnosed with a Wilms’ tumour – a type of cancer located in his left kidney – in 2017.
Jenny said: “When Evan was diagnosed it was a complete shock to all of us. He was a happy healthy boy and was settling in well at school. He came home one day and complained of having a bit of belly ache. Within 20 to 30 minutes he was in agony, doubled over in pain and vomiting.”
Scans revealed the tumour in Evan’s kidney and he began a course of gruelling treatment at Nottingham Children’s Hospital.
During his treatment his family were supported by PASIC, a charity that provides emotional, practical, financial and social support for families of children and young people with cancer in the East Midlands.
Jenny said: “We first met our PASIC support worker on the ward (with her chasing down the sweets trolley for us!) where she explained who PASIC were and how they could help.
“Following on from that she would often come to visit us. Just seeing her friendly face during this time was what we all needed.”
The charity funds support workers based at Nottingham Children’s Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary, and organises a wide range of trips and activities to allow families to spend quality time together.
Jenny said: ““The days out organised by PASIC gave us something to look forward to and gave us some ‘normal’ family time.
Now, four years on from his treatment and doing well, Evan wanted to help other young children going through cancer by taking part in PASIC’S #4the400 fundraising challenge.
He said: “I chose to walk 40 miles because PASIC supports 400 families at any one time.
“I want PASIC to be able to continue so other people know they’re not the only child battling cancer and they can still have fun while they have treatment for cancer.”
The family smashed their target and raised more than £500, with Evan and Emily’s entire school joining them to walk the final mile on July 21.
PASIC chief executive Louise Towse said: “The pandemic really hit our community fund-raising hard and it’s reassuring to see people are getting back out there raising money for good causes. It means so much to us when families we’ve supported through tough times choose to fund-raise for us.”
If you would like to donate to Evan’s fund-raiser, visit www.just giving.com/fundraising/evang