Special celebrations for Freddie’s family after cancer recovery

At just two years old, Jemma Smith’s son Freddie was diagnosed with stage four germ cell cancer. He was immediately admitted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Jemma, 28, and her partner Gareth Smith, 40, were told to prepare for a lengthy stay, miles from their family home in Cannock.

From 2017 to 2019, Freddie was in and out of hospital and Gareth slept on the ward, while Jemma and her mother, Janeen Green, 58, stayed together at Ronald McDonald House Birmingham.

The house provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with sick children just minutes away at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, saving families from travelling miles.

Jemma relied on her mum’s support at a critical time whilst they stayed in the house, and their relationship deepened from the experience.

Jemma said: “I would have crumbled if I didn’t have my mum’s support.

“It’s impossible to understand what it’s like to have a child in hospital unless you’ve experienced it yourself. It can be a really lonely and isolating life, and I would’ve felt a lot lonelier without my mum by my side. It really strengthened our bond, and brought us even closer together.”

Janeen added: “I’m so glad I was able to stay in the Ronald McDonald House Birmingham with Jemma. With Gareth sleeping on the ward, she needed someone to support her after every long day and every piece of bad news.

“It was a terrifying time for both of us – I’ve been a big part of Freddie’s life ever since he was born. This is not something anyone should go through, and it was terrible to see my daughter so worried about her son.”

On Mother’s Day 2019, Freddie’s condition had worsened. Jemma feared for her son’s life, knowing his condition could change from one minute to the next.

She recalled: “I was in a haze that day; I couldn’t think about anything other than Freddie.

“I hardly realised it was Mother’s Day, but when I found out, it struck me that this could be the last time I celebrate it as a mother.

“It was completely terrifying, and was made worse by the fact that I had no control over the situation. My son’s life was in the hands of the doctors at the hospital, and there was nothing I could do to help.”

Freddie’s condition was unpredictable, and he was in and out of hospital for several months. Eight months after his original diagnosis, Freddie relapsed. This time, the cancer had spread to his lungs and the subsequent treatment was much more aggressive.

For Jemma, having her mum’s support during this time was invaluable. Having her mum to confide in and help with cooking and washing, and keep her company after tough days on the ward is something she will never take for granted.

Despite feeling low on Mother’s Day, Jemma said the staff at Ronald McDonald House Birmingham helped lift her spirits.

She said: “When we walked in, we were surprised with great balloon arches and cake, and they had arranged for all the mums in the house to get a haircut. It was overwhelming staff cared about us so much and wanted to pamper us on a day that felt really difficult for most of the mums.”

Since this challenging time, Freddie has come on leaps and bounds following his treatment. Whilst he’s suffering from a few side effects from the aggressive chemo treatment, like nerve damage, overall he’s doing well.

Ronald McDonald House Birmingham is a 66-bedroom facility providing free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families with children in the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The house provides much-needed respite for all members of the family.

To find out more about their work, visit www.rmhc.org.uk