Cancer patient sent thousands of Pokémon cards after sharing inspiring story
Eight-year-old Dylan Jeffs described his recent hospital visit as “my favourite day in hospital” after leaving Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s specialist cancer centre with his arms full of Pokémon cards, donated by staff and members of the community.
Dylan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at just two years old and has spent most of his childhood being treated at the hospital.
After his inspiring story was shared on social media, Dylan’s determination not to let cancer stop his love of Pokémon captured the hearts of many. Hospital staff and members of the community quickly rallied together, donating more than 1,000 Pokémon cards to surprise him.
Dylan’s mum, Rachael, a social worker from Cradley Heath, explained how Pokémon became a source of comfort during some of the most challenging periods of his treatment.
“When we were isolating, Dylan’s whole world revolved around getting packs of Pokémon cards and showing all the nurses his collection,” she said. “It gave him something to look forward to and got him through a very difficult time.”
After relapsing in 2024, Dylan required a stem cell transplant, which meant spending long periods in isolation in hospital.
As his parents were not an ideal match, a search began for a suitable donor. Fortunately, a cord blood donor - collected from the placenta and umbilical cord after birth - was found .
Rachael, who previously donated cord blood herself, shared her gratitude to those who choose to donate.
“So many people have helped Dylan, and I am eternally grateful,” she said.
“We want to give back wherever we can. My family are now regular blood donors and, when I had my daughter Mia, I decided to donate my cord blood.
“It was something I felt really motivated and empowered to do. Although it wasn’t a match for Dylan, I’m so happy it’s out there ready to help someone else.”
Another suitable donor was later found, allowing Dylan to undergo a successful stem cell transplant.
Since his recovery, Dylan has returned to school, where staff have launched a Pokémon club to support his transition back into school life and help him reconnect with classmates after long periods of isolation.
Rachael added: “He’s doing well after his transplant but it’s not an easy journey with periods of isolation.
“But we went out on walks playing Pokémon Go and the school’s Pokémon club has been the driving force in getting him to school and socialising with others.”
Dr Divij Sachdeva, Dylan’s consultant, said the moment highlighted the importance of maintaining normal childhood interests during treatment.
He shared: “It’s wonderful to see Dylan one year post stem cell transplant with his Pokémon cards and doing so well .
“Receiving a stem cell transplant is a long journey. It’s really important for a child to feel at home during this process and hobbies like Pokémon can really help with that.”
Watch a short interview with Dylan, Rachael and Dr Sachdeva on YouTube.