Anderson celebrates being cancer-free with Man United Surprise
Seven-year-old Anderson Pollard recently rang the bell at our Children’s Hospital to celebrate being cancer-free after he was diagnosed with a rare type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in May last year.
Anderson’s happy ending was made even more special when Craig Guildford, Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, surprised him with tickets to Manchester United, Anderson's favourite football team, while he was visiting the police headquarters in the New Year.
Dad, Sam Pollard from Redditch, said: "Anderson had started to feel poorly around his seventh birthday. While initially he bounced back to normal, he quickly fell ill again and really wasn't himself.
“At a routine appointment at an allergy clinic, he was initially diagnosed with constipation. When he continued to deteriorate we called 111 and then took Anderson to the GPs the next morning, who sent him directly to hospital."
Anderson went for blood tests, an ultrasound and a CT Scan where they found he had an issue with his bile duct.
Sam explained: "At this point, Anderson also had jaundice, which was getting worse by the hour."
He was quickly referred to the specialist liver unit at our Children's Hospital, who reviewed the scans. Given how Anderson presented a consultant ordered an MRI, shortly after the family received the devastating news that Anderson had numerous cancerous tumours in his stomach.
Sam said: "When we were told it was cancer, we were just in total shock. You see it in films and you just don't think it will happen to you. It was just devastating. We had no idea what it meant and we just feared the worst."
Anderson was transferred via ambulance to the Children's Hospital’s Specialist Cancer Centre. It is the largest Children's Cancer Centre in the UK.
After several tests, Anderson was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a rare but aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Sam said: "The consultants talked us through everything and told us that Anderson's cancer could be curable, but there are no guarantees and it would be a difficult journey. It is never as simple as going from point A to B, with many variables along the way. We had hope, which we clung onto every day.”
Treatment started straight away, with Anderson undergoing chemotherapy at our hospital and supportive care at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Sam explained: "We were in hospital for around four months, where Anderson underwent six intense rounds of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy was really hard on his body, and it was such a difficult time for all of us to see him so poorly."
As well as undergoing chemotherapy, Anderson underwent several procedures, including bone marrow aspirations, drains in both sides of his chest to remove excess fluid, a urine catheter on two occasions, biopsies and eight lumber punctures, where doctors gave chemotherapy via the fluid around the spinal cord.
Anderson was also fitted with a central line to deliver chemotherapy, an NG tube from his nose to his stomach for medicine, and numerous ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET scans.
Anderson also required total parenteral nutrition (TPN) – intravenous feeding – on two occasions.
In September, after four months of gruelling treatment, the family were told the incredible news that Anderson was cancer-free.
Mum, Debbie Bath, said: "It was incredibly emotional; when you go through that trauma, you expect the worst. It was such an incredible relief. We just felt such gratitude to everyone who made it possible.”
Sam added: "Everyone involved in his care was absolutely wonderful. It's an incredibly difficult subject, and they deal with it with great humanity and empathy.
"We can't thank everyone enough, from the doctors to the nurses to the physiotherapists, the cleaners and the housekeepers who brought us food every day, everyone deserves a special mention. Ronald McDonald's House, which provides free accommodation to families while their child is in hospital, was also a lifeline in letting us stay by Anderson's side."
Anderson rang the end-of-treatment bell in October to celebrate his discharge from Ward 18. However, another celebration was waiting for Anderson at the start of this year after he was invited to the West Midlands Police headquarters for a special surprise.
Debbie said: "The Chief Constable of West Midlands Police and his team met Anderson during a visit to the hospital. I remember them being such lovely and kind people. They noticed Anderson was a Man United fan - it was hard to miss in his full kit - and arranged to get him six tickets so we could go as a family."
The Chief Constable, Craig Guildford, invited Anderson, as well as Sam, Mum Debbie and Anderson's big brother and sister, to the police headquarters in Birmingham to present Anderson with his tickets.
Sam explained: "Anderson was in awe seeing everyone at HQ and how much they all wanted to meet him. He had no idea about the tickets, he was in shock when he was given them by the Chief Constable, he was just so happy. He cannot wait to head to Old Trafford to watch the game."
Anderson continues to be monitored by the team at the Children’s Hospital, however, he is now back at school and doing what he loves most in the world, playing football.
Sam said: "It was quite daunting going back to normal life after everything that we've all gone through. No one can understand what it's like unless you've been through it. But seeing Anderson get back to school and playing and watching football again, it's just incredible. We feel such enormous gratitude to everyone."