A couple from Wakefield have launched a fundraising and awareness campaign after their infant son received a diagnosis of a severe type of blood cancer.
Rohan was five months old when his mother, Penny, discovered several firm lumps on his scalp during a routine examination.
Subsequent medical investigations confirmed the presence of acute myeloid leukaemia, a particularly aggressive malignancy of the blood that had already infiltrated his central nervous system.
Penny described the initial experience of entering the oncology ward as profoundly shocking and emotionally overwhelming.
She explained that witnessing numerous seriously ill children becomes normalised only after repeated exposure, and that receiving such a diagnosis for one’s own child remains unthinkable until it occurs.
Rohan commenced intensive chemotherapy treatment within four days of his diagnosis and remained as an inpatient at the hospital for over six months.
Throughout his therapeutic regime, the young patient developed severe oral inflammation of the mucous membranes, a debilitating complication that prevented him from consuming food orally and necessitated artificial nutritional support via drip feeding.
Penny maintained a continuous bedside presence throughout the majority of Rohan’s six-and-a-half-month hospital admission, while her husband Warren alternated between his employment obligations and regular visits to the ward.
The family accessed support services provided by Candlelighters, a charitable organisation operating across Yorkshire that delivers assistance to households impacted by paediatric oncology diagnoses.
The organisation delivered comprehensive support encompassing emotional guidance, practical resources, and financial assistance, alongside providing respite opportunities that enabled Penny to take brief periods away from the hospital environment.
Candlelighters additionally funds scientific investigation into minimising the traumatic physical consequences associated with childhood cancer interventions.
Emily Wragg, chief executive of the charity, noted that while September carries significance for the global paediatric oncology sector, affected families frequently navigate treatment protocols extending across many months or potentially years.
She emphasised the critical importance of ensuring appropriate support mechanisms remain accessible throughout this challenging period.