Jack and family battling more than one challenge (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Jack and family battling more than one challenge

8:00am Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Adrian Kibbler

BRAVE Jack Edwards has needed all his courage after two spells in hospital fighting infections.

As reported, the three year- old from Cleobury Mortimer was diagnosed with leukaemia at the beginning of January.

His punishing schedule of visits to Birmingham every other day for gruelling chemotherapy has been demanding enough.

But he has also just returned home from Worcester where he spent two spells in hospital on a cocktail of antibiotics battling infections.

If this was not enough Jack has had to have a blood transfusion and a lumbar puncture. All of this is on top of his chemotherapy.

“Jack’s been in the wars but he’s fighting and keeping his spirits up,” said his mum Chrissie, aged 24.

“It is very tough for us all including Jack’s two brothers but he keeps laughing and I keep smiling. You just have to get on with it.”

“For most people all Jack’s treatment would be scary but it becomes part of our lives.

“We know that because of his condition and treatment Jack has a very fragile immune system and is very vulnerable to infection.

“The blood transfusions will be needed from time to time and the lumbar punctures are regular.”

Jack faces many months of intensive chemotherapy followed by up to four years of further treatment.

He suffers from the most common form of childhood leukaemia and a generation the prognosis would not have been optimistic.

Today though, his chances of recovery are good with a survival rate of in the order of 90 per cent.

Chrissie juggles looking after her two other boys with taking Jack to hospital and shared the job of staying with him when he had to remain in hospital with his father.

The family doesn’t have a car and so Chrissie and Jack need hospital transport which often means leaving home early and getting back late at night although the actual treatment can take just a few minutes.

Jack’s plight has caught the imagination of the local community who are backing the young family.

A calendar made up of photographs of Chrissie’s friends in the snow wearing little more than a smile has already raised £1,200 and more fund-raising is planned.

“So many people including family and friends have supported us and without them I do not know what I would do,” added Chrissie.