A RALLYING call has gone out for schools across Bromsgrove and Droitwich to join a fund-raiser for potentially life-saving treatment for Oscar Saxelby-Lee.
Oscar’s school in Worcester has declared October 11 ‘Oscar Day’ and is holding a non-uniform day for a £1-per-person donation and staff there are hoping other schools across the county will join them.
A major fund-raising drive was launched a fortnight ago after it was discovered the brave five-year-old’s cancer had returned just months after successful stem-cell treatment. His heartbroken parents need £500,000 to pay for the treatment.
After being told Oscar’s leukaemia had returned, mum Olivia Saxelby and dad Jamie Lee were dealt a further blow when they were told there may be no further treatment options left for Oscar on the NHS.
At present children with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in Oscar’s position are able to undergo CAR-T therapy in the UK. Unfortunately, there is no such therapy for children such as Oscar with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
Oscar’s care team is looking at the possibility of the youngster receiving this treatment as part of a trial. They are also examining the possibility of a second bone marrow transplant that would most likely need to take place outside the NHS.
Currently, the NHS can typically only offer a second transplant to patients 12 months on from their first transplant. But Olivia admitted her little boy may not have that long to keep the disease at bay.
“We were so grateful earlier this year when thousands of people across the globe signed up to become stem cell donors in the faith Oscar would find a donor and we finally got the go ahead with a 10/10 match,” she said.
“After further chemotherapy, full body radiotherapy and three months of gruelling recovery post-transplant, we were told the devastating news that Oscar’s leukaemia is back.
“Having been told options are very limited from the beginning of this journey, we have never lost hope, with Oscar’s strength and determination throughout.
“This is why we have made the decision to give our warrior the best shot at a lasting cure that we can. This is the least he deserves after such a torturous battle.”
Visit https://uk.virginmoney giving.com and search for Hand in Hand for Oscar for more information.
