2024 began as a perfectly normal year. Jack was five years old and had settled well into his first year of school – he loved swimming and going to soft play. One day, when I went to pick Jack up from school, I immediately noticed his slight limp and assumed he’d hurt himself while playing. The limp continued for a week. Although it didn’t seem to bother him, I took him to the GP.
The doctor told me Jack likely had a virus, which was causing an irritable hip. A few days later, Jack got sick one night, and I grew concerned that he might have an infection. I took him back to the GP, who said it could be either a virus or an infection and advised me to give him Calpol.
In the second week, Jack's pain started. He began crying out at night, prompting me to take him to A&E. After a hip X-ray, the doctor reassured me that he was fine and advised me to give him regular paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Diagnosis
That night, Jack screamed in pain. At 5 am, I called 111, and they advised me to return to A&E and request a blood test. Later that day, the blood test showed a very high C-reactive protein (CRP) level, so we took him to Bristol Children's Hospital.
Jack got admitted to the hospital, and the doctors told me that he might have a septic hip, even though he seemed fine. His X-rays and hip ultrasound showed no cause for concern. However, the next day, an abdominal ultrasound revealed a mass above his right kidney.
As Jack underwent numerous tests and scans, things progressed quickly over the next couple of weeks. On February 15, 2024, we received his official diagnosis: stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma. Our lives changed instantly.
Jack in hospital
Treatment
Jack has undergone eight rounds of induction chemotherapy, a stem cell harvest, tumour resection surgery, high-dose chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, 12 sessions of radiotherapy, and six months of immunotherapy.
His ability to bounce back from the lowest moments is amazing, and we couldn't be prouder of him. His diagnosis comes with a high risk of relapse, which looms over us like a dark cloud. Whenever Jack mentions having a tummy ache or sore legs, I can't help but jump to the worst conclusion.
Jack finished treatment in April 2025 and is now in remission. He’s on maintenance treatment for the next two years to help prevent a relapse. Jack just turned seven and is back in school full-time. He’s doing so well right now, and we couldn’t be happier with how far he has come.
Last updated November 2025
