For many parents September is a month of transition and change as the summer holidays come to an end and many parents send their children off to the new academic year. However this is not the case for Toby and Deborah Chapman whose son Saul passed away on September 16 from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
“My wife, Deborah, first noticed something wrong on Tuesday October 15, 2013. Saul’s stomach seemed slightly distended and firm to the touch. She managed to get a doctor’s appointment for the following day, but was told it was probably a strained stomach muscle and some Calpol should sort things out,” shared Toby, in the first part of his boy’s moving story. After many x-rays and emergency room visits, on October 24, Deborah and Toby, heard the words that no parent ever dreams of hearing, “We think Saul has cancer.” Saul was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumour (DSRCT), which is an extremely rare and very aggressive form of cancer, with only 15 cases diagnosed in the UK between 1985 and 2009.
It was an unimaginable time for any parent and remembering the few weeks after Saul’s diagnosis, Toby said, “We were running on some sort of adrenaline-fuelled auto-pilot. A non-conscious reaction to the horrific news that your child may die. The fact is a constant that permeates every thought and action from then on and is something you have to learn to deal with fast as it can destroy you.” The couple noted that the period between November 2013 and January 2014 was an exceptionally difficult time. One of the symptoms of DSRCT is a build-up of fluid in the peritoneum, which is a membrane that surrounds all the vital organs, as a result Saul’s stomach was swollen to the point that it looked like he was pregnant. His body also stopped processing liquid properly which meant that the saline flush cycle that was part of the chemotherapy treatment was absorbed into his body rather than passed as urine. To make matters worse, Saul’s family was dealt the heart-breaking news that his peritoneum was covered with thousands of tiny tumours. Saul’s chemotherapy wasn’t effective at reducing the tumours and therefore surgery was out of the question. With no alternative plan, Toby and Deborah were faced with a difficult decision and decided to put Saul’s quality of life first and enjoy the last summer with their son. Saul passed away on September 16, 2014 at nine years old.
“In a sad irony, September is also the month in which charities, pressure groups and affected families across the globe campaign to spread awareness of childhood cancer. The gold ribbon the emblem that unifies us,” said Toby. In honour of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, Toby has shared his families story, to read the full article, click here.
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