Ex-Everton star Stevens loses his 4-year-old son to cancer
Battle to find cell donor fails
THE young son of Everton legend Gary Stevens has lost his battle against leukaemia.
Four-year-old Jack’s family had been desperate to find a stem cell donor to save their boy.
Everton had opened their Goodison Park stadium to swabbing events hosted by a blood cancer charity as they looked to find potential matches. But their efforts proved too late.
Yesterday, messages of support poured in for the defender who played more than 200 times for Everton between 1982 and 1988.
The club said everyone was “deeply saddened” by the news.
One fan wrote: “Every parent’s worst nightmare.
“I can’t imagine what the family have gone through and are going through right now.”
Another added: “Awful, simply awful news.”
Jack, who had juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia, faced a relapse 18 months after his diagnosis.
Older brother Oliver had been a stem cell donor for Jack’s initial treatment but could not be used for a second transplant.
Gary, 58, who also racked up 46 England appearances and featured in both the 1986 and 1990 World Cup, admitted six weeks ago that they were facing a race against time.
He added: “Cancer is an insidious beast. It lets you
relax a bit and then it springs back at you.”
In an earlier appeal for people to be swabbed at Goodison, Gary said: “Imagine having the power to save someone’s life.
“If you like the of having that power, please get yourself down and support the event.
“You can have a simple mouth swab, register within five minutes and you may find yourself saving somebody’s life.
“It’s been a tough few years’ for the Stevens’ family but the support that we have had all the way has been very comforting. It might be that it’s a little too late to save Jack.
“However, there are many other children all over the world who are desperately in need of a match for their stem cells.
“I know Evertonians will get behind this event so please give your time and you might find yourself a superidea hero!” After leaving Everton, Gary played for Rangers and Tranmere before retiring in 1998.
He became a physiotherapist and emigrated to Western Australia 10 years ago. He and wife Louise have another son, Josh.