“I don’t want to die, mum,” were the tear stricken words from a 15-year-old boy in Leeds, who was told he had cancer after weeks of horrifying symptoms.
Harley Telford, from Belle Isle, is lying in a ward in Leeds General Infirmary, after being diagnosed leukaemia on Wednesday, October 19. His mum Joanne, 41, has been breaking down seeing her “giant baby”, who stands at about 6ft, waste away while undergoing chemotherapy to treat his diseased red blood cells.
In the five weeks leading up to his diagnosis, the Oulton Academy schoolboy developed lumps and swelling all over his body and was going to his general practice for repeat visits. He also began to feel very ill and experienced extreme weight loss.
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After turning “white as a sheet”, his family rushed him back to the doctors' surgery. Heartbroken stepdad Kris Millard, 35, has spoken about how cheeky Harley “the joker, who enjoys a wind-up” has been suffering ever since.
Kris said: “He’s struggling at the minute with chemo, he’s been sick and sleeping all day. He likes to go out a lot, so it’s a big change for him.
“When he found out he was crying, saying he doesn’t want to die and stuff like that. We’re just trying to remain positive for him.
“He was saying it to his mum at the hospital. They’re very close. He’s like 6ft tall is Harley, she calls him her giant baby. So she’s been breaking down every day.”
Harley’s siblings, brother Kieran, 19, and sister Darcy, 17, are also beside themselves ever since the diagnosis. While Kris says doctors are confident the cancer is treatable, with the expectation he’ll be back home in five months, this is not the first time the family has been affected by the awful disease.
Harley’s dad Shane died of cancer three years ago, Kris says Harley has always been a “strong” lad who’s had to cope with it. Kris, a floor layer, is raising money to put a smile back on Harley’s face when he’s finished at the hospital.
Kris wants to treat Harley to a holiday of his choosing and wants to buy him a quad bike. He’s so far raised almost £4,000 towards the teen’s treats, and promises to donate the residuals to the ward Harley is currently lying in.
He’s also arranged a hair shaving fundraiser where he says about 30 members of the community have agreed to shave their hair in support of the young lad, who will be losing his hair as her undergoes treatment. It will take place at Garden Gate pub in Whitfield Place, Hunslet, at 7pm on November 12.
If you would like to donate to Harley’s fundraiser, click the link here.
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