Your child has a cold. They all are sometimes. But then it doesn’t go away… And the doctors initially think of pneumonia. But in the end it isn’t. What if your world falls apart and your child turns out to be seriously ill?
This brave mother shares her story with Mama Magazine.
On Friday, September 1, 2023, we unsuspectingly had another x-ray taken of Liam‘s lungs. The “pneumonia” that our son had did not improve. To our horror we saw two round spheres in his right lung. The hospital couldn’t tell us much, except that it was clear this was wrong. We were referred to the Beatrix Children’s Hospital, where we could go on Monday morning. A weekend full of tension followed, in which we already knew deep down that things were wrong.
On September 4, 2023, our worst nightmare came true. I can still hear the doctor saying: “Your son has two malignant lung tumors of 7 and 8 cm.”
The ground literally fell from under my feet. Completely broken and in shock.
It really is childhood lung cancer
On September 6, we as a family entered the world of childhood cancer. A world we can no longer leave.💔 Our son was soon diagnosed with pleuropulmonary blastoma type 3, an aggressive form of lung cancer in children.
After 12 heavy chemo treatments, lung surgery and maintenance chemo, our son was allowed to ring the bell at the Princess Maxima Center on January 20, 2025 and received his flower bead. He was officially declared clean. 🧡 So grateful that our dear Liam is still with us!
Unfortunately, 1 in 4 children still die from childhood cancer. It breaks my heart that parents have to say goodbye to their child. It is unfair that a child in one room can ring the bell, while parents in the next room are told that their child cannot heal. This must change. 84% healing must go to 100%!
That’s why I’m running 5.38 km with my daughter and a good friend on March 14 during the 538 Morning Run for the Princess Máxima Center. With this we raise as much money as possible so that they can do even better research and treat children.
Here you can do your part to help other children.
Every contribution, large or small, is extremely valuable. You can also support us by following our Instagram page:
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