Brave toddler with cancer receives award for courage

2:14pm Friday 14th March 2008

A BRAVE toddler, diagnosed with cancer when just 12 weeks old, has received a national award for his courage.

Little Samuel Deardon, from Radcliffe, was born with a rare genetic condition that led to him developing tumours in his kidneys at just a few weeks old.

Since then he was undergone regular chemotherapy but despite the gruelling treatment is still a bouncing and happy boy.

His mum, Suzanne, nominated him for the Cancer Research UK Little Star award - and he won.

Mrs Deardon, aged 35, of Meriden Close, said: Samuel is so brave, you wouldn't even know he was ill, and he really deserved to win it. It wasn't just for him though it was also for his big sister, Lauren, who has been brilliant. She is like a second mum to him."

The 14-month-old's parents, Suzanne and Mark, knew there was something wrong with his kidneys while he was still in the womb but doctors initially thought it was polycystic kidney disease, which causes cysts.

However, when he was born Samuel was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder, Simpson Golabi Behmel Syndrome, which can cause Wilms tumour, a type of kidney cancer that affects children.

A biopsy removed most of the tumour and little Samuel was then given chemotherapy.

Initially, the youngster received his treatment once a week at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury, it was then reduced to fortnightly and he is now down to once a month. It will finish next month.

Despite his treatment, Samuel attends a nursery group twice a week.

Mrs Deardon, a former nursery nurse, said: "We get out as much as possible and Samuel loves it. We have to be careful with infection but I want him to have as normal a life as possible.

"The treatment has affected his physical development as it causes muscle weakness so he's only just sitting up. But he's not at all affected mentally. To see such a tiny baby go through so many tests and treatments has been incredibly hard but he has done so well. He rarely cries and is so smiley all the time."

Even after Samuel's treatment is completed there is still the chance the cancer could return.

The family also have to cope with the fact his kidneys are likely to fail by the time he becomes a teenager because of his condition.

Mrs Deardon said: "You just have to get on with it."

Samuel has been honoured with the Little Star award and will now receive a trophy, a certificate signed by celebrities including Dr Who star David Tennant and Kylie Minogue, and a goody bag containing a Little Star T-shirt and soft toys.