Parents of six-year-old boy with bone cancer locked in battle over home adaptations
The parents of Alfie Smith, from Llanmartin, are fighting for a series of home adaptations, such as a bath, for when he returns home after a number of lengthy operations.
The Newport family still face anguish and uncertainty ahead of little Alfie Smith's recuperation from cancer treatment, as his basic needs are still not met.
Housing association Hedyn say they are aware of the family's needs and aim to carrying out the necessary repairs to the home. Last week they did attend to fix the ceiling in Alfie's bedroom.
However, his parents say the housing association has its list of priorities all wrong.
Speaking to the Argus, dad, Mike Smith, explained: 'They turned up today and said they were coming to fix Alfie's ceiling. I said, 'you're not!' You must do the bathroom first! The ceiling job is a lower priority and can't be done when Alfie is in the house.'
Former stable barn with links to Tredegar House for sale
See inside this four-bedroom Caldicot bungalow up for sale
Hedyn, who look after Newport's public housing stock, has been in the firing line for housing six-year-old Alfie in a house that fails to meet his basic needs. As the Argus previously reported, Alfie requires daily bathing and his house only has an upstairs walk-in shower. We have also reported multiple other issues that need addressing.
Additionally, Alfie's treatment will see a bone removed from his leg, causing him mobility issues in accessing an upstairs bathroom, during his recovery.
Alfie faces weeks away when he undergoes marathon surgery to treat his condition, Ewing's sarcoma, a rare bone cancer that usually occurs in childhood. Alfie would be recovering in hospital for weeks following the treatment, which gives Hedyn plenty of time to do other vital repairs, his parents say.
Alfie is asthmatic and immuno-suppressed because of his treatment. Medical advice has it that he needs daily access to a bath and a bathroom that has adequate drainage and ventilation. Access and bathroom installation are priorities, according to his parents. Other necessities, must wait.
The lesser priority ceiling repairs are needed because of a roof leak caused by a broken tile that knocked out the electric light in Alfie's Arsenal-themed bedroom, which is 'his sanctuary,' and the place he will want to come back to for recuperation, according to mum Jess.
The parents point out that Alfie cannot be in the house when the ceiling is knocked out and replaced. His conditions would be made worse by 70 years of attic dust, noise and disruption.
He would also be without a bedroom in the two-bedroom house. This would see the family of four, with a six-year-old cancer patient, all crammed into one bedroom.
The Argus has approached Hedyn for a comment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pregnant Woman, 29, Thought She Had Morning Sickness. Then, She Was Diagnosed with a Fast-Growing Cancer
"I went from looking at prams and cots to looking at wigs," the woman told SWNS NEED TO KNOW A pregnant woman who thought she had morning sickness was eventually diagnosed with a fast-growing cancer Sophia Yasin, 29, of Middlesbrough, England, said she was experiencing intense nausea, night sweats and itchiness before her diagnosis She said people around her assured her that her symptoms were 'normal' and would subside with time A pregnant woman thought her extreme nausea was simply morning sickness — until she received a life-altering cancer diagnosis. Sophia Yasin, 29, of Middlesbrough, England, became pregnant in June 2024. The housing support worker and her husband had just purchased a home, and they were looking forward to the future ahead, per SWNS. It was around that time when Sophia began experiencing a host of unpleasant symptoms. "I was [vomiting] all day, every few hours. I was getting night sweats and itchiness through the night. I was very uncomfortable,' she told the outlet. Sophia said people around her told her not to worry, reassuring her that this was all 'normal.' "Everyone told me it was very normal in the first trimester and should ease up,' she recalled, adding, 'I did have some worry, but I thought it was normal for my first pregnancy.' However, her situation took a sudden turn when she collapsed at work at the beginning of her second trimester. "I remember seeing black, and I blacked out,' she told SWNS. Sophia was rushed to the local hospital, where doctors initially suspected she had pneumonia. However, scans and a biopsy revealed that she had a tumor over her heart. She was diagnosed with pre-mediastinal large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma — a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system — in September 2024. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I remember saying, 'What does this mean for the baby?' I remember being numb,' Sophia said. The doctors told Sophia that the tumor over her heart was growing fast, and that she needed to begin chemotherapy immediately if she had any chance of survival. However, treatment could also harm or lead to the death of her unborn child. Sophia and her husband ultimately made the difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy based on the many medical variables at hand. While Sophia was devastated by the loss of her pregnancy, she also acknowledged that it may have saved her life. 'Because I was pregnant, I was prioritized [within the health care system]. In a way, because I was pregnant, they found the cancer in time," she told SWNS. Sophia said she was forced to fight for her next chapter while also grieving the loss of what could have been. "I was grieving a baby but trying to have treatment,' she recalled. She added, 'I lost a lot in a short period of time. I went from looking at prams and cots to looking at wigs. I lost my hair, my baby and my old life." Sophia officially went into remission in January 2025 after six rounds of chemotherapy — but she said she has not forgotten the baby she lost — a daughter whom she and her husband named Kainaat Pearl. She told the outlet that she would like to try for a child again, but that doctors have advised her to wait two years, as there is an increased risk of the cancer returning within that window. Sophia has since established a GoFundMe for a fundraising walk to benefit Lymphoma Action, a U.K. charity dedicated to lymphoma. 'Last summer, my world changed forever,' Sophia wrote on the fundraising page. 'In the midst of what should have been one of the happiest times of my life, I faced the unimaginable: fighting for my life while having to say goodbye to my baby girl, Kainaat Pearl.' 'Every step we take is for Kainaat, for those still fighting and for those we've lost,' she added. The GoFundMe has raised $1,356 toward a goal of $1,490. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Prince and Princess of Wales set to move into new home in Windsor
The Prince and Princess of Wales are set to move into a new home in Windsor later this year. William and Kate will move into the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge, nestled in leafy Windsor Great Park, with their children George, Charlotte and Louis, according to Britain's PA Media news agency. 'The Wales family will move house later this year,' a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed to CNN on Sunday. The family's current main home at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor is just a stone's throw away from the new property. Earlier this month, permission was granted for minor internal and external alterations at the property, PA reported, citing redacted planning applications lodged with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The local council's decision notice makes reference to the removal of a window and works to a fireplace, PA said, adding that the park lodge underwent £1.5 million (around $2 million) restoration works in 2001. Photographs taken inside the home at the time showcase the property's original stonework, elaborate plaster cornices and ceiling decoration, according to PA. It is not the first time the family has settled into a new home. In August 2022, it was announced that the couple – then titled the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – were set to move their family out of London during school term time, in a bid to give their children a 'normal' family life, a royal source told CNN. The latest move follows a turbulent period for the family, after Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis and that she had started chemotherapy last March. As she underwent treatment, she stepped back from public life and only made a few appearances last summer. In September, she announced she had completed chemotherapy and was 'doing what I can to stay cancer free.'
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Warning over commonly prescribed drug millions take every day
Medication taken by millions of people to relieve heartburn and acid reflux can have a harmful impact on digestion in the long term, a pharmacist has warned. Deborah Grayson, dubbed the 'Godmother of Pharmacology', took to TikTok to discuss how omeprazole - a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) - can affect gut health. Mrs Grayson said that while the drugs may offer sufferers momentary relief, they could also cause problems - leading to bloating and nausea, weight gain and vitamin deficiencies. PPIs are one of the UK's most prescribed mediations in the UK, with 73 million NHS prescriptions dispensed in England in 2022-23, at a cost of £190m. She explained: 'Omeprazole stops heartburn and reflux, but how does it really work? It's a PPI, and that interferes with the cells of the stomach responsible for producing stomach acid. So, if we stop the stomach from producing acid - by taking a PPI - the theory is that we will stop the acid coming back into the oesophagus and causing heartburn and reflux. READ MORE: Mum had shoulder pain - now she has 'to make the most of what I've got' READ MORE: Heartbeat legend favourite to play lead detective in Death in Paradise-style spin-off 'There's often a discussion about whether heartburn is related to low or high stomach acid. But actually it's to do with the timing of the stomach acid. While stopping your stomach producing that acid can be beneficial in the short term, it's not always great for your digestion in the longer term as we need that acid to break down our food. 'It can be helpful to have omeprazole if you've got gastritis or erosion in your oesophagus, but if you've only got simple heartburn-related problems, longer term it can have greater impacts on the body.' Acid reflux happens when stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus, often causing heartburn - a burning sensation in the chest or throat. Normally, a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter prevents this, but if it weakens or relaxes at the wrong time, acid can escape and irritate the oesophagus. Triggers include stress, excess weight, eating too quickly, or consuming alcohol, caffeine and chocolate. Pregnancy hormones can also raise the risk. While reflux is uncomfortable, stomach acid is essential for digestion. It activates pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down proteins, and helps soften food. It also protects against harmful microbes in food. Mrs Grayson said low stomach acid may increase infection risk and hinder absorption of key nutrients like Vitamin B12, iron, calcium and magnesium. Mrs Grayson, who has been working as a pharmacist for 30 years, and also runs Practice With Confidence, teaching transformative patient care, said: 'Long-term use of PPIs can significantly impair digestion. 'Stomach acid plays a crucial role in breaking down food, particularly proteins, and activating enzymes like pepsin. When acid levels are too low, food may not be properly digested, leading to symptoms such as bloating, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and IBS-like issues including flatulence, constipation, or diarrhoea. 'Poor digestion may also contribute to nutrient malabsorption, potentially leading to fatigue or weight fluctuations. Reduced stomach acid can also compromise the gut's natural defense barrier, increasing susceptibility to infections such as Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). 'These can cause further gastrointestinal symptoms and, in some cases, serious complications.' Under her TikTok handle @tgopharm, Mrs Grayson explained in a previous video that if you're a frequent sufferer of acid reflux and heartburn, lifestyle changes can make a real difference. Taking the time to eat slowly and mindfully is essential for proper digestion. If you're too busy to cook, Mrs Grayson suggested starting the 'anticipation process' around 20 to 30 minutes before eating. She said: 'Think about what you are going to have, how it tastes and how it smells. This can trigger the anticipatory response in the same way that preparing it yourself would have done. 'Modern lifestyles have resulted in many people deciding they are hungry, dashing into the nearest food outlet and eating food within minutes. 'This means that the body has to play catch up, exacerbating symptoms' In another video shared on her platform, Mrs Grayson recommended 'disconnecting from technology and doing some alternate nostril breathing' - which can help with switching on your digestion and reducing reflux. She also said to avoid trigger foods, such as peppermint, chocolate, coffee, citrus and tomatoes and leave a gap between eating and sleep, as lying down with a full stomach can trigger reflux. Mrs Grayson said a window of three hours between your final meal and bedtime is optimal. Mrs Grayson has previously spoken about the damaging impact of omeprazole, discussing how it can make symptoms worse in the long-run and can make someone become dependent on it. She said: 'We are sleepwalking into a significant culture of PPI addiction due to over-prescribing without clear reason and failure to give patients a clear exit strategy from the treatment.' Research shows up to 40 per cent of patients do not respond to a PPI, so the drug is rendered useless in those cases.
