Samuel puts on a brave smile as he faces up to months of gruelling cancer treatment
A routine blood test leads to a childhood leukaemia diagnosis
Samuel was just nine years old when a routine blood test in January 2025 unexpectedly revealed he had B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).
Samuel is a talented rugby play with a huge passion for the game
Before cancer, rugby was Samuel’s world
For Sam and his family the diagnosis came as an enormous shock. Samuel was a healthy boy bursting with energy and a talented rugby player. It’s fair to say before his cancer diagnosis, rugby was Samuel’s world.
Samuel’s parents, Nicki and Chris, recall that the diagnosis turned their world upside down in an instant.
“The first few days were a terrifying whirl. Everything moved so quickly. We were flooded with information and suddenly our Samuel didn’t feel like our familiar sporty son.
“Within a week he had a Hickman line inserted and soon after he began chemotherapy treatment.”
Chemo made Samuel feel unbearably cold and uncomfortable. But no matter how tough it gets, Sam keeps focusing forwards
Starting chemotherapy at Birmingham Children’s Hospital
The months of grueling treatment that followed took place at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where Samuel received incredible care from the dedicated medical teams.
The side effects of chemo vary depending on an individual’s reaction to the type of treatment being given. In Samuel’s case it made him feel unbearably cold and uncomfortable. But no matter how tough it gets, Sam keeps focusing forwards – because that’s what Rugby champs do.
How a Kids’ Cancer Kit brought comfort during treatment
In the midst of this emotional and physical turmoil, a Kids’ Cancer Kit arrived from Cancer Support UK. Receiving the Kids’ Kit on one of those long hospital days meant more than they could ever have expected says Nicki.
“That act of genuine kindness brightened both Samuel’s day and ours,” she explains. “We’re incredibly grateful to whoever donated it. Their act of generosity gave Samuel a sense of comfort at a time when he really needed reassurance.”
Samuel loved all the kit contents, but one item was particularly special – the Warmies® sensory bunny. Warm and soft, this cuddly toy was something he could cling to when everything else felt uncertain. It brought reassurance and a moment of calm in a world that had suddenly become extremely frightening.
You can support children, like Samuel, facing cancer this Easter, by helping send them a Kids’ Kit
Help provide comfort to children undergoing cancer treatment
This Easter, Nicki and Chris are supporting our Fill a Kit appeal. They hope that other people will consider donating so more children facing childhood cancer, like Samuel, can receive the same moment of warmth and security during their treatment.
“It truly makes a difference,” says Nicki.
Please help make a difference by donating either £35, £30 or £18 – your generosity can really brighten the days of children living with cancer and undergoing treatment.
