The terrible news I had to give my boy
FAMILY ARE ROCKED BY DREADED DIAGNOSIS A SECOND TIME
A FATHER has told of the heartbreaking moment his son was diagnosed with cancer – six years after he lost his wife to the disease.
Steve Liddle’s wife Kerrie died in 2012, aged 42, after battling breast cancer for two years.
His son Olly was just seven at the time and his older son Max was 10.
Six years later, Olly – a promising rugby player – was also diagnosed with cancer.
The youngster started having pains in his right leg but continued to play rugby and take part in school athletics.
However, months later the family were told by doctors that he had osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer just under his knee, and had to have his lower right leg amputated.
Mr Liddle, of Whitley Bay, says he was “hit really hard” when his son was diagnosed.
The 43-year-old businessman said: “Eight years ago my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and since then it’s been a bit of a tragedy.
While she was ill, her father started to get Alzheimer’s and her mother was diagnosed with cancer as well.
“Sadly we lost both of them as my wife went through treatment and then my wife passed away in 2012.
“Fast-forward six years, we were just about finding our feet when my son was diagnosed with bone cancer.
“I remember thinking, ‘S***, here we go again.’ It hit me really hard. Two of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do are telling my boys their mother was never coming home and tell Olly he’s got cancer.”
Olly, now 13, and his dad made the decision to have his leg amputated, rather than have doctors replace bone with metal, to remove the tumour.
However, it means he can no longer play contact sports such as rugby.
With his family’s support, Olly has battled through chemotherapy like a “proper little fighter” and is now being fitted for a prosthetic leg.
The determined teenager now plans on competing in triathlons, with hopes of taking part in the Paralympics. Mr Liddle said: “Fortunately the cancer is quite treatable, but we had to remove the tumour which was just below the knee.
“It meant either keeping the leg but replacing the bone with metal, which would limit movement, or amputate the leg which completely removes the tumour.
“It’s lifechanging but he’s trying his best to deal with it and at the moment we’ve just started the process of getting fitted for a leg. The chemo has not even touched him. He’s a proper little fighter. He’s getting through it like a true warrior.
“Finding out he can never play rugby again was hard on him. He loves playing and he’s really good at it too.
“He had a lot of promise and it’s tough for him as he’ll miss playing.
“Now he’s going to be looking at other sports he can take part in. There are plenty of options for people in his situation, thankfully, so he’s thinking about trying to get into the Paralympics in the future.
“He’s really keen on competing in triathlons.”
The family have been pouring their efforts into fundraising and members of the community have also been helping to raise cash.
A campaign, Rock4Olly, was set up by Rockcliff Rugby Club – the club Olly played for – and a number of events have been held over the last few months, including sponsored head-shaves.
Last month, Whitley Bay police officers gave their backing by hosting a static 24-hour bike ride at the Park View Shopping Centre. And Mr Liddle has raised £4,515 for Cancer Research UK by taking part in a charity boxing match.
He signed up to Ultra-White-Collar Boxing and received eight weeks’ training before stepping into the ring in Newcastle.
Mr Liddle, who drew in the fight, said: “I had never stepped into the ring before but I had to do it in memory of Kerrie and for Olly.
“The fight was
really intense. I loved it, but I’m amazed at how generous everyone has been.”
Speaking about his late wife, he said it’s been hard for him to get by.
He added: “She was a great woman, a perfect wife and a fantastic mother.
“She had lots of friends and was very popular.
“When you lose the woman you love it’s so hard to get back on track. We were married for just over 10 years and I knew her for 12.
“She was very little, only 5ft 2ins, but she really fought until the end as she didn’t want to lose her boys.
“Five days before she went doctors told us she had a week to live.”
To make a donation to Rock4Olly, visit https://www.goldengiving.com/w/rock4olly.