Toddler's stubbed toe leads to cancer diagnosis

A mother says her "world was turned upside down" when her two-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer after stubbing his toe.

When his injury was slow to heal, Zak from Crawley, West Sussex, was eventually given a blood test, which confirmed he had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Within weeks, the toddler was on an intensive programme of chemotherapy and steroid treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London. At one point, he was receiving chemotherapy nearly every day, which led to him losing his hair.

His parents, Amina and Suhaib, said Zak's cancer experience is still far from over, but cuddles from his sensory teddy bear have helped him through some of his toughest times.

Zak now has a lumbar puncture every six months, as well as chemotherapy once a month.

His parents also have to administer other drugs to him at home, as part of his treatment plan.

"When he was diagnosed I felt disbelief and shock. Our whole world was turned upside down," Zak's mother said.

"It’s been the hardest two years of my life."

She says Zak remains "playful and such a joy".

"You never see him upset over anything.

"Everyone loves Zak. He’s a very active child who loves riding bikes, swimming and playing football. He never sits still."

Zak's family said Cancer Support UK's lavender-scented heatable teddy bear has "brought joy" into his life.

They are involved in a campaign to raise money to allow the charity to provide more of the bears to children as they go through treatment.

"He finds great comfort holding his cuddly ted when he goes to sleep and plays with it constantly," Zak's mother said.

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