Kai’s Krusade

On Friday 13th September 2013 when Kai was 8 months old he was diagnosed with Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Kai Laidlaw is 2 years old now. Kai was a happy, healthy & flirtatious boy with a massive smile. On the week leading to Friday 13th Kai displayed flu like symptoms, we consulted with Health Visitors, NHS 24 & our Treatment Centre and advised plenty of fluids, steam & calpol. However Kai was declining by Thursday 12th at night he became inconsolable, pale & lifeless so we took him to our Doctors at 9am. Our GP checked Kai over and referred us to Royal Hospital for Sick Children urgently we arrived there by 10am.

We arrived at Accident & Emergency and seen quickly with a vast amount of staff & medical equipment with different people asking questions alternately. We knew then that this was serious and not the flu or chest infection we suspected. The medical team worked fast and efficiently. Suddenly there was an erie silence, then 2 doctors came in and introduced themselves and said they where from the Haematology & Oncology Department. That sentence changed our lives forever! In that moment we were told Kai had Leukaemia - Cancer! It was 1pm within 3 hours our world was devastated and would never be the same.

Kai was taken to Intensive Care Unit for 6 days as he was so poorly we were told he probably would not make it through the night, then the weekend but he did, Kai has fought instinctively. Leukaemia was in for a fight.

We were then moved to Ward 2 on Wed 18th where our terrifying Cancer journey truly began. Kai was diagnosed with Infant ALL which is an aggressive form of Leukaemia which affects 2 children under the age of 1 in the UK each year. Kai had a high level of Leukocyte (Leukaemia) which had flooded his bone marrow and poured out into his blood. Kai also had a high rate of the MLL gene arrangement, the older the child on this diagnosis and closer to the year age this gene decreases. These are factors that need to be present that show the difference between Infant ALL & ALL.

Kai started a trial for Infant ALL which was 6 blocks of intensive chemotherapy treatment this was gruelling, hard & soul destroying. We nearly lost Kai on a few occasions but Kai battled back from each block but not without complications & twists. It was discovered that leukaemia had got into Kais left eye which is very rare but to save my life on 17th February 2014 his left eye was removed and replaced with an implant & prosthetic lens.

Kai spent most of his first year of diagnosis on Ward 2 where he had his first birthday, Christmas, Easter, halloween also Kais first steps where on ward 2 and his first words.

Towards the end of 2014 I started enjoying a home life. I was restricted to Edinburgh due to being on new medicines, daily treatments, checkups, blood & platelet transfusions & occasional unplanned stays but I did get to spend time with my loved ones at home.

Unfortunately on 11th March 2015 nearly 18 months after diagnosis we received the devastating news that Kai’s Leukaemia had returned in over 50% of his bone marrow and was even more aggressive. We were told that Kai’s options are limited and should do as much as possible with him now as all he knows is the hospital and focus on quality of life & making memories.

Kai’s doctors have asked us to reconsider stopping treatment and let Kai have a few months of no hospitals and creating memories. However Kai is in a good place just now and we can not give up on him so we have to try anything.

Great Ormond Street in London have said they are willing to try an experimental transplant in July however we will have to stay down there and have all after treatment through them if this is successful. We want to give Kai a chance at life so we have to go to London.

Please help Superhero Kai and his family to stay together. Kais dad has Progressive MS and they want to be as close together at this horrific stressful time. A sick wee boy and needs his mummy and daddy. Calvin will need a small wheel chair accessible flat for all his equipment and a carer too also pennies to keep them going in London with out having any financial worries.

We have been informed the NHS won’t help us with expenses!

We just want to be together!!

Kai is a loving, happy wee boy who continually smiles regardless what Cancer throws at him.

If you would like to follow his journey please add him on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/kai.laidlaw

Bank Account Details: Bank of Scotland

Master Kai Laidlaw - Sort Code: 80 49 41 Account: 10652165

PayPal: [email protected]

Thank you very much for taking the time to read Kai’s story, love from his parents & family xxxxx