A mum told how her toddler son was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia while on a family holiday back to Scotland - after mystery bruises began to appear. Mum-of-one Leighann Cochrane, 36, and husband Keith, 53, jetted back to Scotland from their home in New Zealand five weeks ago, with Arran, aged three.
The family planned to spend the break catching up with family and looking for a new home, as they looked to move back after eight years in New Zealand. But their lives were turned upside down when they began to notice mystery bruises on Arran - despite not seeing him fall over or bump into anything.
In late July, they began to notice the "boisterous" tot, who likes to climb and jump off things, was getting pin prick bruises, and much larger ones were appearing without any indication that he was in pain while on holiday in Oban, Argyll and Bute. Arran had also begun to complain of being too tired to walk, although he would still have bursts of energy in the playground, and began looking paler than usual.
On August 5, the couple took Arran to a GP, who referred them to a paediatrician at Forth Valley Hospital the same day and were warned it may be leukaemia. The next day, medics at Glasgow Children's Hospital confirmed Arran has acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The devastated family are now selling their house in Cromwlell, near Queenstown, New Zealand, as they do not know what the future holds. Leighann said they were "destroyed" by the diagnosis, and are anticipating having to shave Arran's head as his hair has begun to fall out due to chemo.
She said the situation had not fully sunk in and the couple were dependent on their families for getting through it.
Leighann said: "He initially had quite a few on his legs, we thought it was just from being boisterous. He is a very active child, likes to climb and jump off of everything.
"It was really the two weeks before going to the doctor that we became concerned. They were appearing on his stomach, cheek, his bottom for not reason. Then he had a huge one on his head and lower back with lumps.
"He would normally cry and we would know what and happened but they just appeared from nowhere. Then he started to get little pin prick bruises. I knew something wasn't right and was worried about his clotting.
"I knew leukemia was a possibility but I think I had blocked it from my head, I'd told myself there was no way it would be that. When the doctor said that's what it was, I can't describe the pain and fear. We were destroyed."
Leighann, who works as a nurse, and Keith, an engineer, both resigned from their jobs, as they now face the prospect of staying in the UK indefinitely. The couple are being helped by friends in New Zealand, who are packing the family's belongings and sending halfway around the glove to Scotland.
They are taking it in turns to stay near the hospital during the first five weeks of chemo, while Arran is an inpatient. That will be followed by another six months of intensive treatment and another two and a half years of maintenance chemo.
Leighann, originally from Dunblane, Perthshire, added: "Some hair has started to fall out today so we will probably shave it soon. I think once his hair is gone he will look sicker and it's going to hit me harder then that this is all real."
They are fundraising £10,000 to help cover costs including bringing over Arran's favourite books and toys, including Duplo and his Spiderman collection, as well as clothes for the entire family.
Leighann added: "He has his ups and downs. He hasn't wanted to get out of bed for a few days but is brighter today. He has a very sore bottom which is distressing for all of us to change.
"We want to bring some of his favorite books and toys - he loves his Spiderman and Paw Patrol toys. We barely brought anything with us as we knew we would be taking some bits back. We want him to have things that our familiar. We are overwhelmed with how amazing everyone is."
Leighann thanked donors who gave blood and platelets which had been used in Arran's treatment - and asked people to consider going on the bone marrow donor list.
She added: "At the moment Arran doesn't need bone marrow, we have no idea what his future may hold. Hopefully the treatment works and he never will need a donor."
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