Six-year-old Jimmy Cragg was diagnosed with leukaemia after his parents Wendy and Will spotted a lump on his neck as well as flu-like symptoms in the run up to Christmas
A family has been left devastated after their six-year-old son’s ‘usual Christmas bug’ turned out to be cancer.
Little Jimmy Cragg first started feeling unwell back in November when he developed a cough, a cold, a sore throat, and a small lump on his neck. His parents Wendy and Will took him to the GP multiple times and made several calls to 111, but were consistently told Jimmy either had “a swollen gland”, “tonsilitis” or “the usual Christmas bug going around schools”.
When he started vomiting, his mum and dad rushed him to A&E and they were finally given the devastating diagnosis that Jimmy had leukemia. Mum Wendy, who works for a medical concierge clinic, said: “It started with the usual flu-like symptoms. He had a cold and a cough, and a dry mouth and sore throat. When we noticed the small lump on his neck, though, we took him to the doctor. But they said ‘not to worry’ – it was just a swollen gland.
Wendy, 43, said she and her husband Will, 46, got really worried when Jimmy “started speaking funny” before his school’s Nativity. She said: “We took him back to the GP and they said it was probably tonsillitis. We then had to really push to get him antibiotics. After five days, he was still showing no improvement and we called 111 again on December 15. They told us to finish the course.”
That evening Jimmy started vomiting and Wendy and Will, an engineer surveyor, rang 111 another time. “A doctor told us it was just due to tonsillitis and we needed to wait it out,” Wendy said. “But we were done by then. We got in the car and took him to hospital.”
Wendy, from Yateley, Hants, added: “It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. It was just the worst thing to hear. We were just massively shocked. We still are. We later found out that leukemia is actually very rare in children – there are only a thousand or so diagnosed every year in the UK.
“So that means a lot of GPs actually don’t know to look out for these symptoms. The symptoms are really similar to usual coughs and colds – but things that help differentiate them include bruising you can’t explain. Again, that’s difficult – as six-year-olds bump into everything.
“We’re lucky that we caught it early – but that’s because we took him to A&E even though we were told not to. Who knows what would have happened if we didn’t? I’d tell parents they have to trust their guts.”
Jimmy is currently having chemotherapy once a week and undergoing lumbar punctures. Wendy says he’s already got all the doctors and nurses “wrapped around his finger”. She said: “It’s because he’s just such a little character. Everyone loves his infectious little laugh. He’s incredibly popular.
“He’s also just a really good boy. He takes his medicine even though it doesn’t taste nice. We’re trying to keep things age appropriate for him. We’ve just explained that his blood is poorly. We don’t want him to be scared. And he’s not. He’s being very brave.”
Since Jimmy is spending so much time at Southampton General Hospital, the family decided to set up a GoFundMe to raise some money to improve the facilities. Jimmy is aiming to walk 1,000 steps every day with his new companion – an IV stand nicknamed ROBO – and hopes to raise £25,000.
Wendy said: “The staff on our ward who look after the kids and their families are amazing. But there are parts of the ward that are run-down.” Wendy and Jimmy are hoping they may be able to put a ping pong table in the the family room – as well as some other sociable games. They’d also like to update the ward’s microwave, washing machine, and its furniture.
Wendy said: “We just want to help provide some more things for the families who stay there. The days can be extremely long. Every minute feels like an hour. So anything to put a smile on people’s faces.”
