A 15-year-old boy who lost his dad to cancer is now facing his own battle with the disease after being diagnosed with leukaemia. Harley Telford told his family 'I don't want to die' after receiving the heartbreaking news at Leeds General Infirmary last Wednesday (October 19).
Mum Joanne, 41, who describes Harley as her 6ft "giant baby", is suffering every parent's worst nightmare as she watches her son undergo chemotherapy to treat his red blood cells. The youngster, who is a pupil at Oulton Academy in Leeds, started feeling unwell and rapidly losing weight just over a month ago.
Harley then started finding lumps and swelling all over his body and made several visits to his GP, LeedsLive reports. However, his family rushed him back to the doctor's surgery when he suddenly turned “white as a sheet”.
His stepdad Kris Millard, 35, has spoken about how cheeky Harley, who he describes as “the joker, who enjoys a wind-up”, has been suffering ever since. “He’s struggling at the minute with chemo," Kris said.
"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.”
His siblings, brother Kieran, 19, and sister Darcy, 17, are also distraught since the diagnosis.
Although doctors are confident the cancer is treatable, with the expectation he’ll be back home in five months, the family have had to contend with the disease before. Harley’s dad, Shane, died of cancer three years ago.
Kris, a floor layer, says Harley has always been a “strong” lad who’s had to cope with it and is raising money to lift his spirits when Harley's finished at the hospital. His step-dad also wants to treat him with a holiday and a quad bike.
So far, he's raised almost £4,000 and promises to donate the residuals to the ward Harley is currently lying in. Thirty members of the community have also agreed to shave their hair in support who will be losing his hair as her undergoes treatment.
This 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 GoFundMe page.
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