“Harry is a bundle of joy – he is fun, loveable, social and outgoing. He is a HUGE Disney fan, he also loves Lego and following instructions to build different things. He enjoys going to the beach and being outside in the fresh air.

I started noticing a few changes in Harry – he was lacking energy, he started picking up bugs and becoming unwell quite regularly and he was getting bruises in unusual places. I took Harry to A&E at my local hospital, where I was told it was an infection, but something was telling me that wasn’t right, so I took him to the GP the following day. Again, they almost insisted it was an infection, and Harry should take the prescribed antibiotics. I knew there was something more to it, so I called 111 later that night and I got a call back from the hospital at 1am telling us to make our way there. They ran some blood tests and at 3am on 31 March 2023, I received Harry’s diagnosis – he had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and would need to start treatment immediately.

As a single mum dealing with this news was devastating. I was shocked – childhood cancer was something I knew nothing about, I could only think about the worst possible outcome, and I knew our lives were about to change in a big way.

The very next morning Harry had his port-a-cath fitted and chemotherapy treatment started right away. It was this very first day of our cancer journey that I was introduced to Momentum. I met one of their Family Support Workers, Kerrie, at East Surrey Hospital, and we were then transferred to The Royal Marsden where I met Sam. Momentum have had a huge impact on my life – I will be eternally grateful to them for the support they have given us.

Sam, our Family Support Worker from Momentum, has been amazing – having that constant regular support is exactly what I need. She is always there to listen, whether it is about my son, or not. I honestly couldn’t have got through this without her.

On top of all the face-to-face chats and phone calls, Sam has given me practical advice about applying for the DLA, she’s sent me and Harry gifts, and we even had a home visit from Santa which was organised by Momentum. Later this month we are heading to Shorefield Park for a stay at one of the charity’s cabins – we can’t wait!

My employer has been amazing over the last two- and a-bit years – they paid me in full for four months at the start of Harry’s treatment, even though I couldn’t work. They’ve been really flexible, and I can now work parttime and do hours that work for my little family. My job is stressful, but I am grateful for the distraction it provides.

Harry was so young at the time of his diagnosis, it was impossible to explain it to him. He knew he was poorly, and he understood that we had to take a long break from soft plays and going to the park. Thankfully, Harry has always had a good vocabulary, so he was able to articulate when he wasn’t feeling well. Now he is a little older, he understands the importance of being careful not to pick up germs, washing hands and not eating any food that has been on the floor.

Harry’s cancer treatment lasted two years and we were part of a clinical trial called ALLTogether. He had intensive chemotherapy for around 9 months and was put on steroids. This was a particularly difficult part of our journey as the side effects were just awful – Harry had intense hunger pains, and he would have violent outbursts.  Sometimes we’d stay at The Royal Marsden for long periods of time, other times we would head home after a long day. It was an intense time for me, so having Sam, our Family Support Worker from Momentum really helped as I could offload some of my worries and frustrations. I was often exhausted, but Sam was always so understanding and compassionate.

Over the course of Harry’s treatment, we were admitted to our local hospital quite a few times, and it was always a relief to see Momentum there. The snack box provided by Momentum at East Surrey Hospital was a lifesaver at times when I didn’t have the time or money to buy lunch or dinner. Harry has had a course of music therapy which was funded by Momentum – he absolutely loved it!

More recently, I was talking to Sam at Momentum about Harry’s bedroom. Throughout his treatment, we had shared a bedroom – I wanted to be close to Harry in case he needed me in the night. As time went on, I wanted to encourage him to sleep in his own bedroom. I wanted to make it a fun, safe space for Harry and Sam said Momentum might be able to help with this. They arranged a Zoom call with one of their corporate supporters, Stepnell Construction where we discussed ideas and Harry contributed his thoughts too! We made a plan for an Avengers-themed mural, with the other walls painted blue and before long, Stepnell were at the flat getting to work!

Stepnell were truly amazing, and I can’t thank them enough for what they did. They kept the whole thing a surprise for Harry, despite him being in the lounge while they were painting! Harry is chuffed to bits with his room, and every time anyone comes over, he insists on showing them his room! He is really happy sleeping in there now and is busy collecting Marvel Squishmallows to match his mural.  

Harry’s treatment finished three weeks ago, although he is still at high risk of infection and we still have to go to the hospital for regular appointments. Thankfully, it has all worked out in time for Harry to start school this September.

Harry is beyond excited to be starting school and I am delighted with the school we have picked. I am making the most of this time with Harry and over the next few weeks we have lots of fun things planned including a trip to Legoland and to go bowling.”

*Names have been changed to protect identity. Story taken June 2025.