School milestone 'means everything', says mum

The mother of a young boy who endured 2,000 medical procedures and 10 blood transfusions says the milestone of starting secondary school this year "means everything".

Seb, 11, from Tring in Hertfordshire, suffered repeated infections, extreme tiredness and weight loss before he was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma, a blood cancer, in 2019.

Claire Boulter said their "world was turned upside down" when a 11cm mass was discovered in her son's chest by doctors at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

"Seeing your child start secondary school is an ordinary milestone most families take for granted, but for us it means everything," she added.

After a course of steroids, Seb started chemotherapy six days later, on his fourth birthday.

"Seb spent his birthday in hospital," his mother said. "He managed to eat some chocolate cake but was then hooked up to a chemo drip.

"Over the next three years of treatment, cancer took away so many special moments from Seb.

"He managed just one hour in his school uniform on his first day of school before we had to take him back to hospital for chemotherapy."

Claire, head of education at a disability charity, recalled how the family were unable to go on holiday for three years because of the risk he could pick up an infection.

Seb was given the all-clear in June 2022 after completing his treatment.

According to Blood Cancer UK, lymphoblastic lymphoma is a rare and fast growing disease diagnosed in about 400 children in the UK each year.

Matthew White, the charity's director of engagement, said: "We want to raise awareness [of blood cancer] so people understand the devastating impact it can have and support us.

"We want to showcase the amazing resilience of those who adapt to these moments or celebrate once they have come through treatment, and to pay tribute to the researchers who are helping people recover from cancer or live a better quality of life.

"Science is giving people ordinary and extraordinary moments that matter."

Seb needed support to physically recover from his cancer, including physiotherapy on his legs.

Claire said he has made strong friendships, impressed academically - and is a now keen football player.

Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts or Bucks? Contact us below.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.