Liam and his family were devastated when he received his leukaemia diagnosis. Read his story below, and discover how Make-A-Wish Ireland made Liam’s wish come true when he got to visit Legoland with his family.
Liam’s dad Derek told us about their journey: “Nothing could prepare us for the shock of Liam’s leukaemia diagnosis. We had just moved into our home six months previously, and Liam’s brother Oscar was only two months old. We were busy, but ‘good busy’.”
Liam’s Leukaemia Diagnosis and His Make-A-Wish Dream
“Liam had started to feel tired more often than he should have, and had developed swellings on the side of his neck. Initially, we thought this might be an infection, as it was an occupational hazard of going to crèche — any bug that made it into the crèche had a habit of doing the rounds!
We then brought Liam to the GP, who felt around Liam’s lymph glands and sent him to Crumlin hospital for further tests. At this point we still tried to be optimistic, thinking it was probably the GP just being cautious in ‘ruling anything out’.
Presenting to the ER on a Monday night, we didn’t yet have a diagnosis, but we could see the concern on the registrar’s face when reviewing his indicative blood counts. Every number that was low should have been higher, and every number that was high should have been lower. We were referred to a general ward for the night while we waited to speak to more doctors in the morning.
At this point we knew leukaemia was a possibility, while still trying to entertain thoughts of less severe (but also less likely) illnesses. We paced the corridors that night, stopping only to google leukaemia symptoms and not liking what we saw. Paleness, night sweats, low energy — Liam ticked all the boxes. That morning we met ‘the team’.
We knew something was up when six doctors entered the room to speak to us. Then they introduced themselves as oncology doctors. We knew. Over the next few minutes, a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was revealed.
The blow was somewhat cushioned by the manner in which Professor Smith let us know. It was very upsetting, but we were comforted by the positives, such as a high likelihood of recovery and a shorter than expected first hospital stay. It was tough news to get, but we faced it together as a family.”
Liam’s Journey
“Liam arrived in hospital on Monday night, had a diagnosis on Tuesday morning, and started chemotherapy on Wednesday. The cliché of ‘the chemo is harder than the actual disease’ rang true. Due to the nature of the disease, the initial chemotherapy is extremely severe. We saw Liam’s energy levels drop dramatically, his muscles weaken, and he got bloated from various fluid infusions and steroids.
The loss of muscle definition in his legs meant we usually had to carry him in the early stages of treatment — this made us realise how sick he was, as being carried is the last thing a healthy four year old would want!
When we got home, Liam put on a huge amount of weight, a side effect of the steroid hunger we’d been told about. The initial high dose of steroids altered his mood dramatically too, but thankfully this was temporary.
We purchased a toolbox to keep Liam’s new medications organised — chemotherapy, steroids, codeine, anti-sickness medication, laxatives and more. The next seven or eight months were somewhat of a blur due to the regularity of outpatient visits and short stays.
There was chemo to be given, bloods to be taken, and dressings to be changed. Three to five visits to hospital per week took its toll on everyday life, but we were motivated by the fact that Liam would be better soon.
Some months in, we learned how to take weekly blood samples ourselves, as well as changing the dressing, and this reduced how often we needed to go to hospital.
It was a huge milestone to reach the maintenance phase, where chemotherapy is less severe and less frequent. Liam’s hair started to reappear very slowly, and the colour returned to his cheeks.
He started maintenance therapy in May and started Junior Infants with a full head of blonde hair that September — almost a year on from his diagnosis. He still had a year of maintenance therapy to go, but it was going well, and we hoped it would continue that way.”
Liam’s Wish
When Liam was referred to Make-A-Wish, he was very excited. As a huge Lego fan, it was Legoland all the way!
Liam, from Meath, had his wish to visit Legoland Windsor granted. Liam and his family enjoyed a three-night stay at The Legoland Castle Hotel, leaving plenty of time to visit the park and enjoy all the rides. Liam’s mum told us, “Liam did not stop smiling all weekend, and made sure to spend every bit of his money on Lego!”
Make-A-Wish Ireland
Make-A-Wish Ireland has one simple aim — to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, to bring hope, strength and happiness. You can find out more about their work, and how to donate, on the Make-A-Wish Ireland page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of leukaemia was Liam diagnosed with?
Liam was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after his family noticed persistent tiredness and neck swelling, which led to hospital tests at Crumlin.
What was Liam’s Make-A-Wish?
Liam, a big Lego fan, wished to visit Legoland. Make-A-Wish Ireland granted his wish, and he and his family enjoyed a three-night stay at The Legoland Castle Hotel in Windsor.
How does Make-A-Wish Ireland choose which wishes to grant?
Make-A-Wish Ireland works with children who have life-threatening medical conditions, aiming to bring them hope, strength and happiness through a wish experience like Liam’s.
How can families support Make-A-Wish Ireland?
Readers who’d like to help grant more wishes to children like Liam can find out how to donate and support the charity’s work directly through Make-A-Wish Ireland.
Related Reading
- Make-A-Wish Ireland: Granting Wishes to Seriously Ill Children
- Real Family Stories: Facing Childhood Illness Together
- Supporting Your Child Through a Hospital Stay
Don’t Miss a Story Like Liam’s
Want more real family stories, parenting tips and things to do with the kids delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free newsletter and never miss our best content.
