Parents left heartbroken after baby boy's rash leads to rare 'adult' leukaemia diagnosis
16.09.2023 - 04:13
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
The heartbroken parents of a baby boy who has been diagnosed with a form of leukaemia most commonly found in adults have issued a warning about their young son's symptoms.
Mum Alex Davies, 22, and dad Tommy McDougall, 26, want other parents to be aware of the symptoms experienced by their 15-month-old son Thomas before his devastating diagnosis.
Alex, from Stirling, said Thomas was 'happy and healthy' boy until around six weeks ago, when he developed a rash on his chest and back.
Within days, Thomas also developed bone pain all over his body.
The mum-of-one said: "Thomas woke up one day and there was a rash on his chest and back.
"This rash looked totally different to the usual ones. It looked like purple spots under his skin.
"We phoned the doctors and they said it was odd, but not concerning. Thomas was still happy and healthy and had no other symptoms for a while.
"Then 10 days later he woke up screaming in pain with his legs curled into his belly. He had a high temperature and bad bone pain. He couldn't stand or put weight on his legs."
Alex was advised to take Thomas to Royal Forth Valley Hospital and he was treated for a viral infection, but his symptoms continued to deteriorate.
Thomas was then admitted to the children's ward in Royal Forth Valley Hospital where tests revealed a diagnosis of leukaemia.
Alex said: "We were told Thomas had Acute Myeloid Leukaemia - which is more common in adults than children - and that he would need intense chemotherapy.
"It was a very big shock to the system. At first I thought he might have had Strep A. I never thought it would be cancer."
Thomas is currently recovering from his first round of chemotherapy and has had blood transfusions. Doctors are hopeful the treatment will work