In March 2020, our lovely son Ellison, aged 10, started complaining about back pain just as the world was going into lockdown. With the stress of homeschooling, working from home and endless on hold calls to the doctor, it wasn’t until April that we finally saw the GP. She was in full PPE which felt surreal and by the time we’d driven home a scan had been booked at Swindon hospital for the following day. The MRI proved too painful for Ellison as he had to lie on his back but it was enough to know that it was cancer. We were rushed to Bristol Children’s Hospital that night where he had a biopsy.
Ellison was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma on 23rd April 2020. He endured the 14 sessions of chemotherapy stoically. He never complained, though he was not happy about losing his hair and wore his cap almost continuously.
Surgery in early September 2020 removed the tumour and three ribs. This was a dark week as the pain was hard to manage and being in the high dependency unit was unbelievably stressful.
There were more rounds of chemotherapy and we were ‘lucky’ in that we never had extra hospital visits in between these times.
So it was with false confidence that we made our way to Manchester to start proton therapy in December 2020.
It was there that we discovered the tumour had returned.
His next treatment plan was in Gloucester hospital which was much easier for us as it was only a 15 minute drive and he seemed to be getting livelier and stronger.
We even asked the school to send more homework as he was bored and winding up his sister who was also being schooled at home!
At the end of January 2021, Ellison became very weak and with a raised temperature, he was taken into Gloucester hospital.
It was the last time he walked outside. At Gloucester we could see the shadows on his lungs and we were taken by ambulance to Bristol. Once here, he was stabilised on oxygen and his sister was allowed to visit him.
Ellison died 3rd February 2021. He was 11 years old. Cancer took away his freedom and dignity and then it took him away from us.
“I say I miss you all the time but really that just doesn’t quite cover it…
You are missing from my world and there just aren’t any words to describe how truly difficult it is most days to exist without you.
It gets better but even that has it’s own hurt too.”
A tribute page was set up in memory of Ellison for loved ones to share special thoughts and memories. You can visit his page by clicking on the link below.
You can make a donation or pay in funds raised by cheque, payable to Bone Cancer Research Trust, to:
Bone Cancer Research Trust, 10 Feast Field, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 4TJ.
Please ensure you make it clear that the donation is for Ellison's Fund so that your donation is allocated to the correct fund.
100% of donations to Ellison's Fund will go to Ewing sarcoma research.
