A 4-year-old boy who was battling a rare form of cancer contracted the coronavirus.
Archie Wilks was getting treatment for childhood cancer, neuroblastoma, when he got the infection even though his parents did their best to keep him safe.
Little Archie was at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge when he developed a fever. He was then transferred to a coronavirus ward where he was diagnosed with the infection.
His family went into 14 days of self-isolation in their home in Essex.
Archie’s dad, Simon Wilks, said they did everything to protect their son. “We only had a community nurse visit a couple of times and some trips to the day unit where we kept away from whoever we possibly could and stayed outside to keep away from the waiting room,” he shared.
“But despite all the efforts, apparently Archie was still the first child oncology patient to be tested positive at Addenbrooke’s and potentially in the UK. Typical of Archie!”
Archie, who was tired from his cancer treatments, needed oxygen overnight for a few days before he showed signs of recovery.
His thankful family told supporters on Facebook: “Archie’s definitely out the other side of the virus with no cough and no need for oxygen.”
Mr. Wilks also praised the NHS staff as they made him and his wife feel ‘at ease’ during a ‘worrying situation for most parents.’
It was in January 2019 when Archie was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Two tumors were discovered around his spine and kidney and the disease had spread to his bones, bone marrow, and other areas.
People are donating money to help the family raise enough funds to allow the young boy to take part in a vaccine trial in the United States which could lower the chance of cancer to return once he is in remission.
According to Mr. Wilks, 50 percent of children successfully treated for the disease will relapse, and 90 percent of them will not make it.
He also said that the vaccine trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York “will look to reduce the chance of that happening and allow us all to know we have done everything possible to give Archie the best chance at life.”
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