About us
Lafford James Estate Agents
In October 2020 one cold bright Sunday morning Percy our 8-year-old boy said to me his leg felt funny, "what do you mean" I asked? "Well it feels like walking on marshmallows" he replied!
Preceding this my wife and I had multiple visits (over months) to the hospital, the walk-in centre, calls to 111 and our doctors, with a complaint of back pain. On all occasions we had been told, it was a muscle strain and it would go away in time we have to be patient!
With this new symptom of funny legs, we managed to see a paediatric specialist, who immediately organised an MRI where a tumour of unknown type was visible inside his spinal column. This tumour was causing pressure on his spinal cord.
We were immediately transferred by "blue lights" to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Within days, he had lost all feeling below his waist. Our consultants took us aside to explain that they suspect the tumour is a type of cancer and to preserve Percys' chance of being able to walk again they will operate and remove the tumour with chemotherapy to start immediately afterwards.
Our lives were crushed in an instant there is no way to describe how my wife and I felt at that time other than completely broken. Somehow we had to find the strength between us to be brave and strong for Percy, I remember our consultant saying all we can do is to love him.
Percy has been looked after by an amazing team at Milton Keynes Hospital, Oxford John Radcliffe and Manchester Children's Hospital he underwent surgery to remove the tumour which was identified as a Ewings Sarcoma, 15 rounds of gruelling chemotherapy, 28 rounds of Proton radiation therapy at The Christie Manchester and spinal support surgery Oxford John Radcliffe. Hours of physiotherapy both locally and whilst in hospital.
The lockdown rules meant that only one parent could be with him whilst in the hospital so we changed shifts at the door.
Winding the clock forward to May 2022 Percy has just celebrated his 10th birthday. His treatment finished one year ago and he is walking, running, and swimming and is back to school full time. We have our little boy back.
We have a lifetime of scans and worry ahead but with the amazing support of the team who are looking after him, we are keeping positive.
Percy has been so brave, throughout the treatment and his bravery and strength have inspired me to give back to the charities that helped us as a family when we were at our most vulnerable. My company Lafford James Land & Property through our business activities, over time, will raise funds to help the families that are receiving crushing cancer diagnosis news every day.
