The worst moment of my life …

… being told, “your child has cancer”

Drew was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) just after his fourth birthday in May this year, but his birthday party was marred by the fact that he felt tired and feverish.

After the party, Jason Howard-Carter and his wife, Su, took their son to the GP multiple times where he was initially diagnosed with an ear infection, then throat infection. But two different types of antibiotic had no effect, and Drew became paler and paler, with fevers and sweats at night. He was eventually referred to Worcester Royal Hospital for blood tests and Jason and Su were given the devastating news that doctors strongly suspected leukaemia. Drew had a blood transfusion in Worcester and was then transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where the diagnosis was confirmed.