Hartley's Story

Hartley was diagnosed with ALL in April 2023 following us noticing that he had stopped moving his leg/hip and appeared unwell.

After several hospital and doctors appointments and coming out in chicken pox Hartley was found to have an infection in his hip. We were transferred to Bristol for treatment and a day after we were told the devastating news that Hartley in fact had ALL.

Hartley was started on treatment after the pox had reduced and his hip was clear. He was pretty much an inpatient for 7 months with a few weeks home during that time.

It has been a very stressful and worrying couple of years with Hartley suffering severely from mucositis and several infections resulting in many hospital admissions at our local hospital. Hartley seems to really suffer on steroids so only having two pulses left is amazing to us and him!

Hartley has been so strong and kept his amazing personality through everything with cheering us all up in tough times, keeping the nurses on their toes and giving so much happiness to everyone he meets.

We are now towards the end of treatment with only a couple of months left! He is now back in preschool and loving it, looking forward to starting primary school in September, enjoying being able to spend time with friends and family and is really looking forward to going on holiday (especially swimming). With Hartley being in and out of hospital still, his sisters and us are really looking forward to some family time.

Thank you to everyone at Bens foundation for allowing us this break