‘SUPER SAM’ WINS STAR AWARD FOR BRAVERY DURING HIS CANCER TREATMENT
MUM Sarah Strevens was changing her twomonth-old son’s nappy when she spotted a lump on his testicle. After a series of appointments and tests the tot was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of soft tissue cancer.
Despite various treatments throughout his short life three-yearold Sam never complained and has now been recognised for his incredible bravery.
“I was changing his nappy when I noticed a large swelling next to his testicle,” said Sarah, 27, from Caerphilly.
“I took him to the GP and Sam had lots of appointments and tests before having surgery.
“It was after the surgery that we were told he had a rare type of sarcoma. We were heartbroken and devastated. When you hear the word ‘cancer’ you can’t help but think the worst.
“They had to remove the tumour and the testicle next to it to ensure all the cancer cells were removed and then he had chemotherapy.”
Sam, a pupil at Hendre Infants School, was finally given the all-clear from cancer just before his first birth- day, following a great deal of treatment.
He continued having ultrasounds and X-rays every three months up to December last year.
Mum-of-three Sarah are so proud of f Sam. We call him m our ‘Super Sam’, as s he has gone e through so much h with such bravery y and courage.
“He was such a trooper through h the whole experi- ence and almost t always had a smile e on his face. He was s our little ray of sunshine in a very dark time.
“Looking at him m now you would d never think he had d cancer. He loves s school and is so full l of energy.”
Sarah added that t said: “We We the surgery won’t affect any future family plans for Sam.
“Although he’s had one testicle removed we have been told he can still have children in the future, which is great news. He doesn’t know any different so it doesn’t bother him at all.”
She added: “We are so proud of him. It’s thanks to research that Sam i is still here and we are so grateful to all the doctors and nurses who he lped make him better.”
Sam has now been awarded a Star Award f r om Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens, in partnership with TK Maxx, for the c courage he h has shown throughout his cancer treatment.
Every child nominated for an award receives the accolade, which is backed by a host of famous faces including Emma Thompson, Una Healy and Peter and Emily Andre.
Ruth Amies, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens in Wales, said: “Sam is a real star – it has been an absolute privilege to be able to recognise his courage by giving him a Star Award. He has been through so much at such a young age.
“Cancer can have a major impact on children and young people and so many of them show incredible strength beyond their years during their journey.
“Our mission is to fund research to find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people diagnosed with cancer in Wales and across the UK.
“We want to bring forward the day when no child or young person dies of the disease and ensure that those who survive do so with a good quality of life.
“We’re encouraging people in Wales to nominate inspirational youngsters for this year’s Star Awards so we can give more awards like this one to children affected by cancer.”
The Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards are open to all under-18s who currently have cancer or have been treated for the disease in the past five years.
All nominated children will receive a trophy, £50 TK Maxx gift card, T-shirt and certificate.
Since 2004 TK Maxx has raised more than £32m for Cancer Research UK’s work through stock and cash donations.
Of this more than £28m is supporting pioneering research into children’s cancers specifically and £4m is supporting general cancer research.
To nominate a child for an award visit cruk.org/kidsandteens