When Harry Budd began complaining of pain in his right leg, his parents assumed it was either growing pains or a sporting injury.
The eight-year-old stopped playing for his local football team and stayed home in a bid to recover. But when the pain persisted to the point where he could no longer walk, his parents knew something was very wrong.
Manchester United super fan Harry, who lives in New Mills, on the edge of the Peak District, was taken to see a doctor on November 10. The appointment came after his family received a phone call from his school saying Harry had been crying in agony.
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He was immediately referred to Stepping Hill Hospital for further tests and had an MRI and a CT scan the following day. His family received the scan results six days later. Harry either had cancer or an infection, with a biopsy scheduled for November 30.
Harry spent two weeks in Stepping Hill Hospital and returned for the results a few days after Christmas. Tragically, it was the news everyone had been dreading. A tumour had been found.
Though further tests are needed to confirm his condition, it’s believed the youngster has osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. His mum, Rebecca Budd, says the family have been “devastated” by the shock diagnosis.
“As a family, we are absolutely devastated about Harry being diagnosed with bone cancer,” The mum-of-three, 42, said. “He’s such a cheeky, happy, sporty little lad, always a smile on his face. It’s just so distressing to see him so ill.
“He had been troubled by pain in his leg, which meant he missed playing in a couple of football matches and training sessions and was really upset about that. You never think that it could ever turn out to be something so serious as cancer.”
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer, which mostly affects children and young adults under 20.
The most common symptom is pain in the affected bone, which may initially come and go. The pain gradually becomes more severe and constant, especially at night, with swelling around the affected bone also expected.
Osteosarcoma is often discovered when a bone that has been weakened by cancer breaks after the person has had a minor fall or accident. Some patients may develop a limp if the tumour is in the leg or pelvis.
These symptoms can be caused by many things other than cancer. However, any persistent bone pain should be checked by your child’s doctor. Symptoms are often attributed to a sporting injury.
There are several different types of osteosarcoma, with most occuring in the centre of the bone. There are also rare subtypes, such as parosteal, periosteal, telangiectatic, and small cell osteosarcoma.
Harry, who plays for the New Mills FC Under-8s Juniors team, is set to have further treatment at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham and the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
As the football-mad youngster and his family will need to travel constantly between Manchester and Birmingham, an appeal has been launched to help them through the cost of living crisis. Incredibly, it topped £10,000 in just one week, with donations coming in from the local community, football clubs and supporters around the region.
Family friend Sophie Fryer, who set up the fundraiser, said: “It goes without saying that this is heartbreaking in itself, but the challenges his family now face are compounded by the fact that he needs to be treated many miles from his home.
“No family should have to go through what the Budds are now facing, and while there’s little any of us can do to help medically, raising money for the family means that they’ll be able to spend more time together without worrying so much about the impact of time by Harry’s side, like travel costs and not working.
“And, when he comes home again, they’ll be able to heat their home through the day without worrying so much about the extortionate bills. They will, hopefully, also be able to buy the occasional treat for Harry and his two sisters, to bring the odd bit of joy to this awful time.”
Anybody wishing to donate to Harry’s appeal can do so by visiting the link by clicking here.
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