{"id":180795,"date":"2023-10-13T15:59:20","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T15:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotworldreport.com\/?p=180795"},"modified":"2023-10-13T15:59:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T15:59:20","slug":"i-just-assumed-funny-marks-all-over-my-son-were-a-rash-im-sharing-his-heartbreaking-story-to-save-others-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotworldreport.com\/lifestyle\/i-just-assumed-funny-marks-all-over-my-son-were-a-rash-im-sharing-his-heartbreaking-story-to-save-others-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"I just assumed funny marks all over my son were a rash – I'm sharing his heartbreaking story to save others | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

A TODDLER returned home from holiday with a rash thatturned out to be cancerous \u2013\u00a0now his family are warning of the signs to look out for.<\/p>\n

Charlotte Squibbs, 38, from Rochdale, noticed small "pimples" spreading across three-year-old Tommy's body but assumed it was heat rash from their holiday in France.<\/p>\n


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The mum-of-three wasn\u2019t initially concerned, but as unexplained bruising began taking over, panic started to set in.<\/p>\n

She and husband Daniel, 40, rushed him to their local doctors, who advised the parents to go to hospital immediately – where he was diagnosed with leukaemia.<\/p>\n

Now, the family-of-five are coming to terms with their new reality and are hoping to share their harrowing ordeal in a bid to raise awareness for the signs to look out for.<\/p>\n

Charlotte said: \u201cI felt shocked and massively upset, as we had no idea what to expect \u2013 we couldn\u2019t help but fear the worst.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m absolutely heartbroken that our little boy has to go through this and I wish we could trade places.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a nightmare come to life and I\u2019m scared about the unknown future of this battle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Around 9,900 Brits are diagnosed with leukaemia every year, making it the 12th most common cancer in the country.<\/p>\n

The blood cancer is particularly prevalent in people aged 75 or over, but can occur at any age.<\/p>\n

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Symptoms include flat red or purple spots on the skin, bruising, pale skin, losing weight without trying, shivering, night sweats and tiredness.<\/p>\n

Tommy's family, which also includes Louie, nine and Reggie, six, had just returned from their summer getaway to France on August 28 this year.<\/p>\n

His rash started to appear within days, along with signs of fatigue and severe bruising.<\/p>\n

At first, it was suspected Tommy, who has Down's syndrome, had caught a viral infection \u2013 but after seeing the nurse\u2019s reaction, the parents knew it was something much worse.<\/p>\n

The primary school teacher said: \u201cThe nurse looked at his body and without a thought, sent us to A&E.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile there, they did blood tests and this in itself was very traumatic, as his veins were hard to locate.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was such a bubbly and outgoing boy, who was always smiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the bruising was because of the rough and tumble fun he has with his brothers, but I was totally wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

On September 4, they received his diagnosis and since then, the ordeal has become even more stressful.<\/p>\n

Due to him needing immediate treatment, he was given a blood and platelet transplant, which left Tommy \u201cdistraught.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charlotte said: \u201cIt was such a struggle to get a cannula in and he was holding up his hands and wiggling his fingers to ask them to stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs he\u2019s non-verbal, this was his only way of communicating, which was devastating to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, he\u2019s currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment, but the parents are remaining hopeful and plan to raise awareness for the signs to look out for with other parents.<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cHe is a little warrior and is fighting this in a way only he could with bravery, courage and lots of smiles.<\/p>\n

\u201cDue to his Down's syndrome, he has a lower tolerance for chemotherapy, so his other bodily organs could be affected.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we\u2019re only one round in, so we\u2019ll have to see how it goes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has good days and bad days, as do we, but we\u2019re trying to keep positive.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve both had to give up working for the foreseeable to visit Tommy and look after our two other boys \u2013 but we\u2019re very lucky to have an incredible support system around us.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor any other parents going through this, I urge them to stay positive, take each day as it comes, accept any help offered and look after yourself.<\/p>\n

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I assumed tiny marks all over my son were a rash – his story could save others<\/h3>\n

\u201cYou need to be strong for your child and be there when they need you.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so immensely proud of Tommy with how he\u2019s handling this horrific cancer, but we will continue to fight this together all the way up until he rings that bell in remission.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are the symptoms of leukaemia?<\/h3>\n

Symptoms of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) include:<\/p>\n