The family of a three-year-old boy have shared how he carries around fake eyes in a rucksack with him every day after a tragic start to life - which saw him just one week from a potentially lethal cancer spreading to his brain.
Freddie Swan’s parents started becoming concerned that all did not seem quite right with his left eye. In May of 2019, concerned mum Keighley, 28, started to worry when initial tests failed to diagnose the problem, but she says she just knew something was wrong.
After having to see specialists in Birmingham to get answers, Freddie was just 12 weeks old when he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer, later that spring. The only option was for the little boy to have his eye completely removed.
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The mum-of-three recalled: “Freddie’s eyes were fine when he was born and then one day one of his eyes started going very slightly darker and it was my dad who said something to me about it. It was actually a specialist in Birmingham who eventually found the tumour.
“It didn’t come up on some tests, it was right at the back of his eye.”
Brave Freddie, from Oldham, was only three-and-half months old when he had his eye removed at Birmingham Women’s and Children Hospital.
Bartender Keighley, also mum to Braydn, 10, and six-year-old Archie added: “We opted to have his eye removed rather than him having treatment to try and reduce the tumour so that he wouldn’t need chemotherapy at such a young age.
“When they operated, they said it was a millimetre from his brain, apparently just another week or so and it could’ve been on his brain which is unbelievable.”
Freddie has gone through several prosthetic eyes, trying to get the right fit. Now, the little one ‘plays with his old prosthetic special eyes and takes them around in a rucksack everywhere he goes’ - even to nursery.
“His brothers have been amazing with him,” continued Keighley. “If anyone says ‘what’s wrong with his eye’ they’ll be the ones to tell people he’s had cancer and he has a special eye. When they play hide and seek, Freddie just hides his one good eye, it’s so cute.
“He loves showing off his special eye. He’s had several prosthetics, trying to get it right.
“He has a clear cover in his eye at the moment because we can’t get one that fits quite right, the last one was too big in his socket. He plays with his old prosthetic ‘special eyes’ and he takes them around in his little rucksack everywhere he goes, he even takes them to nursery, he’s very proud of them.”
Freddie will continue to have regular check-ups until he’s five, to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned. To commend his bravery, the youngster has now won a special award celebrating the courage of children diagnosed with cancer.
Freddie, who has received a Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Award, was one of 15 children from across the UK recognised during the virtual awards show. Hosted by children affected by the disease, it was filmed to highlight the impact cancer has on young lives and encourage more nominations for the accolade.
The touching film sees Freddie, and other young recipients, break out their best dance moves in celebration of the award. Famous faces, including presenter of Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, Janette Manrara, YouTuber Jim Chapman, World Champion football freestyler Liv Cooke and Tracy Beaker actress Dani Harmer also made appearances to congratulate the award winners and send them messages of support.
Keighley and her partner, Becky, 28, nominated Freddie for a Star Award after Keighley’s family suggested it. Keighley added: “He really deserves it, he’s so brave and he doesn’t let anything stop him and he’s a little trooper.
“It’s so important to keep raising awareness about what children and young people go through. We’re so proud of Freddie and we hope his star turn inspires other families to get nominating.”
In the North West, around 190 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. Through the Star Awards, the charity hopes to shine a light on some of the challenges faced by children like Freddie.
The Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Awards are open to all children under 18 who live in the UK and have been treated for cancer within the past five years. There is no judging panel because the charity believes every child diagnosed with cancer deserves special recognition.
Everyone nominated receives a trophy, a £50 TK Maxx gift card, a t-shirt and a certificate signed by a host of famous faces. Their siblings also receive a certificate.
Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North West, Jemma Humphreys, said: “Freddie is a real star who has been through so much at such a young age. It has been an absolute privilege to be able to celebrate his courage with a Star Award and celebrate the occasion with a special show.
“As we mark our 20th anniversary, we’re reflecting on the progress made in the fight against the disease, but there’s still much further to go. Cancer in children and young people is different to cancer in adults, from the types of cancer to the impact of treatment - and many youngsters may experience serious long-term side effects. That’s why we’re supporting dedicated research to ensure more children and young people survive cancer with a good quality of life.
“We’re urging people across Greater Manchester to nominate inspirational children like Freddie for a Star Award now, so that many more affected by this devastating disease can receive the acknowledgement they so richly deserve.”
The vast majority of children diagnosed with an eye cancer now survive. Among the treatments, Cancer Research UK developed a test for a faulty gene for children with a family history of the disease, meaning they get early treatment when it’s more likely to be successful. Helping to save more lives, The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is one of the many centres across the UK taking part in ground-breaking clinical trials making innovative new treatments available to children with cancer across the region.
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