12-year-old Cody Lockey was rushed to a hospital when his mother, Lisa Marie Harry, thought he had coronavirus after he developed cold-like symptoms and fever.
But the family have been left devastated after it was discovered that the young boy was suffering from cancer.
Aside from flu-like symptoms, Cody was also complaining of hip pain and groin pain for three days.
Even though Cody tested negative for coronavirus, his loved ones were shocked to find out that he had acute lymphoblastic leukemia – an aggressive type of cancer that targets white blood cells. Its symptoms are similar to Covid-19, including fever, bone pain, and fatigue.
Lisa, a mother-of-three, said: “Cody had been in pain for three days and when he came out in a fever I thought it could be Covid-19.
“We took him to the hospital and the doctors said they didn’t like the look of his skin colour, because he was pale.
“It is just horrible. We got a coronavirus test because I thought it was that at first as he had a temperature and was coughing, but doctors said it was cancer.
“They said there were too many white blood cells. Cody’s bone marrow is jam packed with cancer cells which are stopping good cells getting through.”
The 12-year-old’s family were told that he could die within weeks if not treated urgently.
“I haven’t had time to think about it. In a way that is a good thing, I think we have caught it quite quickly,” Lisa said.
“I keep thinking back to that day and the nurses keep saying that I should pat myself on the back for responding so quickly – I had a gut feeling.
“I would just say to anyone, go and get checked out. Follow your instinct. Do not hesitate.”
Cody’s aunt, Nicola Ann Cook, set up a GoFundMe page to help the family raise money as the young boy will be receiving chemotherapy for three years.
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