Cancer boy's family need to raise £300k for lifesaving surgery

Adam Bird was only five when he was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma last July, which had spread to his bone marrow, lymphatic system and other areas of his body.

Since then, Adam, now six, has had surgery to remove a gland from his neck, months of intensive chemotherapy, endured dozens of invasive testing procedures and needed numerous blood and platelet transfusions.

But his family, from Epsom, are now trying to raise £300,000 so when the first phase of treatment is over and he has had surgery to remove any tumours left, Adam can undergo a treatment called immunotherapy, to remove any cancerous cells left in his body and stop the cancer from coming back.

Adam’s father, Nick, 38, said: “He’s not eligible for a similar trial launched in the UK, so we’ll do all we can to take him to America for the immunotherapy.

"It’s a very intensive treatment and it can have several side effects, but as parents you have to make very difficult decisions when your child is this sick you have to try everything you possibly can.

“If he doesn’t have this treatment, the chances are after he goes into remission the cancer will come back. And once the cancer comes back it’s much more difficult to treat.”

Adam’s family – mum Alison Macready, 39, sister Jessica, eight, and brother Jake, 10 – need to raise the money for the treatment and the costs of five months living in America, before September. So far, the family have raised £12,726.

If Adam is well enough by then, he will be eligible to undergo the immunotherapy and his chances of surviving the cancer will increase significantly.

Mr Bird said: “We have to try to get Adam in the treatment, but for that to happen he needs to be well enough and past the first two stages of treatment.

"We came to the decision we needed to start fundraising now if we were to be able to take him to America.”

Adam, was diagnosed at the end of his reception year at Wallace Fields Infant School and had to stop attending school because of the harsh chemotherapy and its side effects.

Mr Bird, who works for an IT company, said: “He is mostly at home or at the hospital.

"My colleagues at work have been incredibly understanding and supportive and sometimes I can work from home if I want to spend more time with Adam.”

To help Adam get the treatment he needs, go to adamsappeal.org or donate at justgiving.com/adambirdappeal.

Adam's diagnosis Adam’s first symptom was a swollen gland in his neck in early 2009.

After several hospital visits, he fell ill with swine flu on July 2, and had to be admitted to hospital again.

His father spoke of the day he found out Adam had cancer: “By the time Monday, July 6, came round Adam was running around again feeling only slight discomfort.

"The gland in his neck was still enlarged but not to the extent that it had been. Another blood test showed a raised CRP level but lower than before. He was referred for an ultrasound on the gland and we left.

“With no improvement on Wednesday his mum took him back to accident and emergency again. An attending doctor in A&E had examined Adam and had felt something in his abdomen.

"He had called for a paediatrician who confirmed there was something unusual.

They had taken Adam for an immediate ultrasound and it showed there was a mass on his kidney. A CT scan had already been scheduled for the next morning.

“Being told [my son] had a tumour on his kidney will be forever etched in [my mind].”

Help from Adam's school Despite being unable to attend school normally, Adam still keeps in touch with his friends from his reception year.

He shows up at school every once in a while, when he is feeling well, to play with pupils who, according to his father are always thrilled to see him.

Mr Bird said: “When Adam goes to school to play with his colleagues all of them want to play with him.

“Wallace Fields Infant and Junior schools have been unbelievably supportive ever since the diagnostics and the children have engaged in fundraising when they were told Adam would need surgery in America.

“One little boy brought all the coins from his piggy bank to help out and the school has organised a bunny hop and other events to raise money. We can’t thank them enough.”

The school held its first fundraising event last week, asking all the children to bring in any unwanted 1p and 2p coins.

The response was so overwhelming they had to recruit parents to help with the coin count, due to take place tomorrow.

Headteacher Nicky Mann said: “I am so amazed and proud of our pupils. The extent to which they have taken on Adam’s appeal is incredible – every child wants to do whatever they can to help.”

Neuroblastoma facts - Fewer than 100 children are diagnosed each year with neuroblastoma in the UK.

- Most children who get this cancer are younger than five years old.

- Neuroblastoma is the second most common solid tumour in childhood and makes up 8 per cent of the total number of children's cancers - The first symptoms are often vague, such as loss of appetite, tiredness, and pain in the bones.

- If the tumour is in the abdomen, the child’s tummy may be swollen and they may complain of constipation or have difficulty passing urine. Sometimes the child's blood pressure is high.

- If the tumour affects the chest area, the child may be breathless and have difficulty swallowing.

- If the tumour occurs in the neck, it is often visible as a lump and occasionally can affect breathing and swallowing.

- Occasionally, there are deposits of neuroblastoma in the skin that appear as small, blue-coloured lumps.

- If the tumour is pressing on the spinal cord, children may have weakness in the legs and walk unsteadily. If the child is not yet walking, you may notice reduced leg movements. They may also have constipation or difficulty passing urine.

- Very rarely, children may have jerky eye and muscle movements, and general unsteadiness associated with the neuroblastoma.