Cancer survivor to run Race for Life with 'miracle' children

Lisa was told treatment would leave her infertile after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma, at just 18.

Just a few years later, Lisa fell pregnant naturally, giving birth to Chloe, now ten and Callum, now seven.

But in 2021 Callum was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – another type of blood cancer.

The seven-year-old is now in remission but faces another two years of chemotherapy to ensure the cancer doesn’t return.

Callum. (Image: Cancer Research UK)

Despite this, Callum along with his mum and sister will be running the Redditch Race for Life on June 11 at Arrow Valley Park.

Lisa, who works as an administrator in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, recalls being given a 40-50 per cent chance of survival when six months of intense chemotherapy treatment in 2008 failed to work.

“It was really scary,” she said.

“When the chemotherapy didn’t work, I had to have a stem cell transplant and radiotherapy which was tough.

Callum, aged six, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. (Image: Cancer Research UK)

“I was told my chances of survival had dropped from 89 per cent to between 40-50 per cent.

“I’d always known I wanted to be a mother so when they told me I’d be infertile I was heartbroken.

“I asked if anyone had got pregnant before after this type of treatment and they said no so it felt like a one in a million chance.

“It was a shock to find out I was naturally pregnant with Chloe but a happy shock.

“Then, eighteen months later, I found out I was pregnant with Callum which was amazing. I felt so lucky.”

Little did Lisa know that her world was about to come crashing down for a second time when she spotted a burst blood vessel in Callum’s eye shortly after his sixth birthday in November 2021.

“I took him to the GP and they thought it was just an allergy,” said Lisa.

“A few days later he had a nosebleed at school and his teacher noticed he was looking a bit yellow and tired.

“He came home complaining that both his legs hurt, and he had a bit of a fever.

“As soon as I noticed a lump on his leg, I took him straight to A&E.”

The levels in Callum’s blood were so low he had to have an immediate blood transfusion and he started chemotherapy the next day.

“Hearing your child has cancer is so much harder than hearing you’ve got it yourself,” said Lisa.

“It was so painful. I remember them saying that his chances of survival were 80 to 90 per cent but in the back of my mind I was thinking ‘that’s what they told me before my treatment failed’.

Callum. (Image: Cancer Research UK.)

"I was scared I was going to lose my son.

“We were in and out of hospital all the time because he was constantly picking up infections.”

In December 2021, after Callum’s first block of chemotherapy, Lisa received the news she was dreaming of.

“The consultant phoned me to say he was in remission which was brilliant news,” said Lisa.

“He’s back at school now and we’re really excited to join Race for Life and help fund research that will help beat cancer for future generations.”