31 October 2023 , 08:01
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Parents have told how they received devastating news from a doctor after their son had leg pain and was limping while playing football.
Andy Mills and Nicola Smith thought their nine-year-old son had a football injury when youngster Harry heard his leg "make a noise" and he was in pain when he was playing at school in April this year. As he was in pain they gave him a walking stick to help him get around.
The keen Liverpool fan, from Reading had a couple of physio sessions for suspected muscle damage and was able to walk again, so returned to playing football and cricket. But in June the pain came back and Harry was back to limping around on his right leg.
Andy, 53, said: "He was walking fine so we had him back playing football and cricket until the end of May or June when he started limping again. I felt awful because I thought I was pushing him too soon, he stopped again and I spoke to a surgeon who helped me with my knee last year.
Harry had pain when playing football (Andy Mills)
His parents thought it was just a football injury (Andy Mills)"He took an X-ray and said he could see a crack on the bone so he wanted to do an MRI. A few hours later, we got a call to say they thought it was a tumour and the images were sent to experts at the NHS."
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A biopsy was taken from Harry's leg and two weeks later he was diagnosed with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, a rare form of cancer which accounts for less than one per cent of all cancers. Andy said the news of their son's diagnosis broke the family and it wasn't long before a treatment plan was made for Harry including chemotherapy.
Andy told the Liverpool Echo: "It was when the doctors said 'if we can treat your son' that it really hit home. It was a pretty horrendous thing to hear. We spent the next two weeks not knowing if our son could be treated. You see such sad stories on the TV and think 'bless that family', you never think it will be you.
Harry Mills, nine, with his school friends who all shaved their hair to raise money for Young Lives vs Cancer (Andy Mills)"Harry started chemotherapy in mid-August and has now had around four sessions. He's in hospital a number of times a week and life has just completely changed for us. It's very tiring going to and from the hospital but Harry never complains about it and just goes through it."
Following the news of Harry's diagnosis a representative from Liverpool FC got in touch with the family, after hearing the nine-year-old was a Liverpool fan. The team invited him to Anfield to watch the Merseyside derby and meet his favourite player, Virgil van Dijk.
Andy said: "After the match we were in the Melwood Lounge, where the players' friends and family go. When Virgil walked in everyone stopped and turned around. A man said to us 'he never comes in here, it must be special' and he came over to speak to Harry, gave him a signed shirt and his captain's armband. He said 'anything we can do for you' when he was speaking to Harry, it was just brilliant."
Harry before and after his hair was shavedHarry is facing an invasive surgery to remove any bone and muscle in his leg which the cancer has affected in November, just two days after his 10th birthday. Andy said: "An implant will be inserted into Harry's leg to substitute the removed bone and muscle. Every six months it will need to be expanded with magnets, to keep up with Harry's growth.
"The implant will last about five years and will then need replacing, so he'll be in and out of hospital for the rest of his life. Harry has always been a big fan of sports and played football, cricket and rugby. It's likely that he'll never be able to play competitively as his leg muscle will never be as big as it needs to be, so he'll be restricted."
The family are now trying to raise money for Young Lives vs Cancer, a charity which has helped them as they came to terms with Harry's diagnosis. A JustGiving page has already raised £31,000 after 12 of Harry's classmates shaved their hair in solidarity with him.
Andy said: "As for the fundraising, 12 of his classmates took part in the head shave and I was amazed that they actually did it. What those boys have done for my son is just incredible." As well as the head shave, Harry's sisters, Laura, 30, and Abi, 21, also took part in an 80-mile walk and raised more than £5,000 for Young Lives vs Cancer.
Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving said: "Harry is a superstar. Despite all that he is sadly going through, he and his 12 amazing classmates, decided to bravely help other young people affected by cancer and have raised an incredible £30,000 for Young Lives vs Cancer.
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"From everyone at JustGiving we are sending best wishes to Harry and we hope he had a wonderful time meeting his football hero." To donate to Harry's JustGiving page, click here.