Community rallies round family of 'courageous' boy who has had cancer half his life
A community is rallying round the family of a brave five-year-old Cradley Heath boy who has spent more than half his life battling leukaemia.
Dylan Jeffs regularly stays at Birmingham Children's Hospital for "traumatic treatment" including chemotherapy which will last until at least April next year.
Due to the amount of time required to care for Dylan his father has been forced to give up work during the cost of living crisis. Friends have set up a GoFundMe fundraising page and an annual football tournament in Rowley in August has chosen Dylan as the beneficiary of money raised on the day.
Dylan's mother. Rachael, whose family are from Shell Corner, described Dylan's dread of his treatment at the hospital.
She said: "He has to be held down for treatment whist the doctors get vital needles into him. We used to have to barricade the door to stop him from trying to leave the hospital. The trauma he has and continues to go through is more than any child should ever have to experience."
"Dylan is a brave young boy who has been fighting leukaemia since his diagnosis back in January 2021. He was aged just two when he was diagnosed so more than half of his life has already been consumed with his diagnosis and treatment."
She added: "Dylan has to have his bloods checked every two weeks, Chemotherapy through his vascular port fitted in his chest every four weeks, Lumbar punctures every three months as well as oral chemotherapy and antibiotics daily at home.
"When Dylan is admitted with a high temperature and possible infection there is a high risk of sepsis shock due to him having the vascular port fitted. Meaning a minimum 48h admittance into hospital every time. Recently this has been two maybe three times a month as he is at school mixing with others."
She told the Express & Star: "Everyone has been fantastic with us, from friends and family to the nurses and doctors at Birmingham Children's Hospital. His fifth birthday was the other day which he enjoyed but he's back in hospital now. We remain determined to raise awareness and funds for this devastating disease."
To cope with the chemotherapy Dylan has to eat as much as possible between treatments which is made all the harder due to recent food inflation.
Rachael, 33, added: "Dylan's dad had to give up work to be with Dylan full time, so we was without an income for such a considerable amount of time. Whilst there the cost of food for Dylan is extortionate. Every month after chemotherapy he has to take steroids which cause his appetite to get excessive and parents often having to cook sausages and mash at 3am as he never stops eating!
"He spends so much time in hospital the main priority for Dylan is to make sure he enjoys his short times out of hospital as much as possible. Dylan's absolute favourite place is the beach and seeing his little face smiling is just precious. Unsure of what the future is for Dylan; so family try their best to make his childhood memories filled with more of what he enjoys instead just hospital treatment rooms, needles or chemotherapy."
Halesowen North councillor Stuart Henley urged residents to dig deep for the family and is looking forward to the George Jackson Memorial Tournament on Saturday, August 19 at Rowley Goals.
He said: "I'm glad Dylan's mother asked for my help in promoting the charity event and raising awareness about Dylan's leukaemia. Dylan's a courageous young boy who faces his condition with strength, visiting the hospital frequently. "Leukaemia in children is a significant health concern in the UK, highlighting the importance of raising awareness and supporting initiatives like this charity event."
To donate to Dylan's campaign visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/dylanjeffs
