Sick Sean building up for Legoland trip
A critically ill little boy with not one, but two, rare illnesses, may get his dream holiday at Legoland, thanks to a community rallying round.
Sean Wallace, 10, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia this year – but his already serious condition took a turn for the worse when it sparked another rare illness where his immune system started attacking his own organs.
The Crowmoor Primary School pupil, from Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, was at death's door for two weeks, but is now fighting back – and friends in north Shropshire are determined to give him something to fight for.
A fundraising drive led by Prees parish councillor Gaynor Jenkins, a friend of Sean's mother, is hoping to raise enough money send Sean to the Legoland theme park in Florida as soon as he is well enough.
Mother Victoria Wilson, 29, said the idea was perfect for building-block fan Sean.
"He absolutely adores it, his bedroom's more Lego than bedroom," she said.
She said the last three months had been a shock to the system, after Sean fell ill out of the blue. "He got sent home from school because he wasn't eating, he said his teeth were hurting," she said. "I noticed a rash all over his body that he didn't have the night before. I thought it was meningitis."
She said he spent just one night at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital before doctors said he had leukaemia and he was sent to Birmingham Children's Hospital.
"I honestly didn't know how to handle it, I was absolutely devastated," she said. "I haven't left his side since he was diagnosed. I'm still kind of in shock now. All the days blend into one, it doesn't seem real."
He was diagnosed on January 18, but it was three days until doctors identified exactly what was wrong with him.
"Because it's such a rare case they were finding it hard to fully diagnose the type he had," said Miss Wilson. Sean has a rare cancer called mature B-cell leukaemia, also known as Burkitt.
"It isn't very common in Western cultures," she said.
She said Sean was moved to the ICU and put on life support due to fluid build up around his lungs and then kidney failure.
Within a week his liver started to fail and his spleen became enlarged and the doctors realised Sean also had hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, or HLH, another rare condition where the immune system attacks the body's organs.
"For nearly two weeks the doctors didn't think Sean was going to make it," said Miss Wilson, "Every time the doctor talked me through the new treatments Sean would be on, they made it very clear how serious it was and that there was a high chance he wouldn't make it through.
"That was the longest night of my life. The doctors are still amazed with Sean's progress and cannot get over how well he was doing considering how he was in February. We've been told he could have another six to nine months of treatment before they'll even think about it being clear.
"He can sit up, but he can't walk – we've got a Zimmer frame and we're trying to ease him into things, building up his leg muscles again."
Councillor Jenkins said she first got involved when signing up for the 5k Mud Run at Bomere Pool, near Condover, which is taking place on April 26.
She said: "From that I had the idea to do an Easter egg hunt and now it's just bulldozed into this absolutely massive event.
"I went to see him in hospital and I thought 'this little boy needs something to look forward to, something to keep fighting for'. At the age of 10 that's going to Legoland."
Asked what he would like to do with any money left over, she said: "He said he'd like the ward he's on to be decorated." Miss Wilson said: "Gaynor's absolutely incredible."
The Easter egg hunt and raffle, with prizes donated by businesses in the Whitchurch area, will be held at Whitchurch Rugby Club on April 20 at 12.30pm.
The event is free, with a suggested donation of £4, but tickets are needed for the egg hunt. To take part call Councillor Jenkins on (01948) 840337 or visit Seans Fundraiser Facebook page for more information.
