This Boy Woke Up With A Swollen Cheek. Doctors Were Shocked When Discovered The Reason
This Boy Woke Up With A Swollen Cheek. Doctors Were Shocked When Discovered The Reason
Charlie Parry-Gladwin’s was diagnosed with cancer when he woke up with a swollen cheek. A few days before the morning described, Charlie had undergone dental procedures to drain his mouth abscess and remove a tooth. They were later referred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for further consultation. After a number tests had been done, the little boy from Llanasa, Flintshire has diagnosed with stage three Hepatoblastoma.
Speaking to the Daily Post, Charlie’s dad, David Gladwin, revealed that all this had begun on a seemingly normal morning in May. After noticing Charlie’s swollen cheek, he and his wife, Rachel Parry, called the dentist and rushed their son to the doctors where they were informed that the swelling was a result of Charlie’s mouth abscess. Given that it is a rare thing for three-year-olds to get abscesses, they were referred to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd where Charlie was tested rigorously.
Doctors did an ultrasound scan that revealed a mass (tumor) on Charlie’s liver and the family was referred to Alder Hey. At Alder Hey, further tests were conducted which confirmed that Charlie had stage three Hepatoblastoma. This marked the beginning of little Charlie’s fight against cancer. Charlie’s dad confessed to the Daily Post that nothing could have prepared them for the news. After conducting a biopsy, doctors informed them that their son had a 10cm tumor on his liver. That was when their world turn upside down.
On the bright side, doctors informed them that they were lucky to have caught cancer in time, because if it had reached its fourth stage, Charlie would have required a liver transplant.
The first step towards treatment involved doctors fitting a central line under Charlie’s collar bone from his ribs to his heart. This line made it easier for doctors to administer medication to him. Charlie has also undergone four blasts of chemotherapy at Alder Hey for some months that decreased the size of the tumor to 6cm.
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But chemotherapy is only the first of many treatments Charlie has had to undergo. In August, doctors at Birmingham Children’s Hospital did an MRI scan on Charlie that revealed the necessity of surgery to extract the remaining parts of the tumor. Charlie underwent the surgery later that month where doctors removed parts of the tumor along with his gall bladder and a third of his liver.
After the surgery, Charlie was back at Alder Hey where he received two more blasts of Chemotherapy. Speaking to the Daily post, his parents admit they are amazed at how well Charlie is handling all this.
“He’s a tough cookie.”
Prestatyn Charity Belief, a local fundraising group, has stood by Charlie and his family throughout this entire ordeal. The founder, Steve Evans, paid a visit to the family and donated an electronic tablet for Charlie to play games on, as well as some Fireman Sam toys for him and his older brother, William. This charity has raised money and donated gifts for local causes. Mr. Evans confessed it was a pleasure to meet Charlie and his family. He sympathized with their predicament saying it was impossible to imagine the extent to which such an event must have turned their lives around.
Elsewhere, a teddy is raising funds for Charlie while simultaneously raising awareness of his condition. David’s friends from Prestatyn Air Cadets bought Charlie this teddy as a gift. This military dressed teddy known as Officer Charlie Bear has its Facebook page where he shares his adventures from across the world. Charlie’s dad thought of it as a great way to create awareness for Charlie’s condition while occupying Charlie with something to focus on during his stay in the hospital. The page has been a success so far and has helped raise funds for CLIC Sargent as well as Alder Hey.
We wish Charlie a quick recovery. He is an inspiration to many.
Newsgrio.com Zaphealth.com Mirror.co.uk