MRI scan confirmed Luca had tumour then we heard on Zoom call it was serious .. it’s tough but we want to thank son’s brilliant carers
Parents of 17 month-old tot set up hospital fund-raiser
The family of a tot undergoing daily chemotherapy to treat a rare tumour will hold a fun day this summer to raise funds for the hospital treating him.
Luca Brannan was just four months when doctors discovered he had an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) that needed treatment.
The tumours are often benign, but that was not the case with Luca’s, meaning the youngster requires chemotherapy twice a day, every day. That is married with a cocktail of drugs to help in his plight.
Although the now 17-month-old has made progress, he’s expected to require at least another 12 months of treatment, which is gruelling for both the tot and his family – dad Kieran, mum Shannan and his older brother Leo, who is four.
Now the family are planning a summer fun day on June 11 at Hamilton Accies’ New Douglas Park to raise funds for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity that have helped them so much over the past two years.
Kieran’s dad John has also set up a GoFundMe that will split proceeds between the charity and the family, so they can enjoy a holiday when Luca is hopefully well enough.
Kieran, a youth worker with Stonelaw High in Rutherglen, said: “When Luca was born, everything was fine at first.
“Then over a few months we noticed there was something growing on the side of his face, which we thought was an infection at first.
“But it seemed like it was getting even bigger and nothing seem to treat it. It was our health visitor that asked us to check it out again the longer it was going on – this was during Covid, so there were lots of barriers to even getting into the hospital, and his face was getting worse.
“Eventually we got MRI scans carried out that confirmed it was a tumour.
“The waiting was the worst bit, more than anything else. We had eight weeks or so, while they analysed it, and they tried to find out if it was benign.
“Then we had a Zoom call with all these doctors and staff and they told us it was more serious.”
Due to the amount of nerves running through the tumour, it can’t be removed through surgery, meaning the youngster is having to take a heavy amount of treatment.
And due to Luca’s young age there are a number of side effects that can occur with his health, which leaves the family with no idea how long a hospital trip can take – often what is expected to be an hour-long visit, can result in an overnight stay.
Kieran says that this is the toughest aspect of the condition.
He explained: “His reflux was bringing up the chemo every night, so we have had to do things like mix the treatment through his chocolate sauce so it stays down.
“We don’t know how long this will last for – the hope is maybe 12 months more, then three months off to see how he fares without it.
“It can be hard, not just for Luca, but for Leo as well. He’s started P1 now and does get pushed from pillar to post sometimes, as we find out we’re needing to stay in hospital a night and my mum’s looking after him suddenly.
“That’s the toughest part sometimes, suddenly finding you’re in for a night because of something his blood tests have returned, and all the uncertainty.”
Now Kieran hopes to give back to the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity staff with the fun day and the GoFundMe page.
He told us: “The staff have been so great, all of them.
“From the doctors and nurses to the cleaners, all of them make a difference. Luca has been going there since he was a baby so they’ve
been seeing him grow up. We’ve had so much support for the fun day too. Family and friends have been getting in touch to offer raffle prizes or things they can do to help us out.
“It’s the same for Stonelaw, who have been brilliant at helping us, and letting me work around everything with Luca.
“Hamilton Accies have given us the function suite for free too, so it’s just selling tickets we’ve to focus on now. It should be a fun day, and years later something we can show Luca when he’s older and not got the tumour.
“My dad wanted to help too so started the GoFundMe. Half of that will go towards the charity, and the other half he wants to give to us for a holiday, as we haven’t been able to do anything like that since Luca’s diagnosis.”
Yet despite the stress, the family, who live in Hamilton, are determined to strike a positive note.
Kieran added: “It’s tough and it’s hard, but a lot of kids are in even worse positions like Luca and you’ve just got to keep going. “We’re in a good place.”
The fundraiser will be free and takes place on June 11, with a free afternoon of fun running from noon until 5pm and a ticketed evening starting at 7.30pm.
Go to www.gofundme.com/f/help-lucafight-cancer-the-champ