Latest news with #neuroblastoma
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Patrick Mahomes' Family Asking for Prayers on Monday
Patrick Mahomes' Family Asking for Prayers on Monday originally appeared on Parade. On the field, Chiefs' quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, may seem superhuman, but off the field he's far from it. When illness strikes a loved one, it's often the great equalizer. No matter how successful or famous one might be, having a sick family member is a reminder that everyone is just human, and that's why the superstar footballer's family is asking for prayers. On Monday, Mahomes' mom, Randi Mahomes, took to Instagram to share the long and painful battle that her cousin's grandson, Luka has been fighting against a complex form of cancer. 'Please join me in continuing to pray for my cousin's grandson,' she captioned the post to her Instagram story. 'Sweet Luka is still fighting Stage L2 intermediate neuroblastoma. He is undergoing chemo and fighting hard. Please pray for this sweet family as they are going through one of the hardest trials of their lives.' Mahomes also wrote, 'If you feel led, here is a link to donate to their family,' and included a link to the family's GoFundMe page. Luka was diagnosed when he was just eight months old, after a large tumor was discovered on his left lung. After receiving surgery to remove the tumor, he immediately began undergoing chemotherapy. His quick diagnosis was due in part to the experience and expertise of his mother, Cassie, an ICU nurse who immediately recognized the severity of his symptoms. However, she will not be able to return to work while Luka remains immunocompromised for fear of bringing home any type of illness that could put his health at further risk, presenting an additional hardship for the family. According to the University of Chicago's Medical Center, 'neuroblastoma is a disease that originates in immature nerve tissue in the adrenal gland or the sympathetic ganglia located near the spinal cord. The majority of children with neuroblastoma are diagnosed before the age of five and more than 95% are diagnosed before they turn 10.' For the Mahomes family, crowdsourced prayers carry just as much weight as donations, though both are more than welcome. Patrick Mahomes' Family Asking for Prayers on Monday first appeared on Parade on Jul 22, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Mother-of-two sheds 17 stone after ditching £400 a month addiction
A mother who began uncontrollably comfort eating when her son was diagnosed with cancer has revealed how she lost a huge 17 stone—and the lifestyle changes she's made to maintain her new figure. Rachel Pashley tipped the scales at 30st 13lbs at her heaviest, and wore a size 32. She admits that she had always been 'curvy', and was wearing a size 16 when her son Jenson, who is now 12, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma when he was a toddler. Neuroblastoma is a rare childhood cancer which affects the nerves, and only 100 children under the age of 14 are diagnosed with it each year in the UK. The semi-permanent make-up artist, who lives in Brighton, says the diagnosis was the 'turning point' as she turned to food for comfort. She was soon spending £100 a week on takeaways as she didn't have time to cook due to hospital appointments. Ms Pashley said: 'That period was horrendous. It was 18 months' worth of treatment, sitting in a hospital room and massively comfort eating. 'He went into intensive care, and that was the turning point. I ate absolute crap. 'It was a family-sized chocolate bar every night on the way home from the hospital. 'I'd have a full English for breakfast, a meal deal from Co-Op, chocolate and a share bag of crisps for lunch. 'We had takeaways six days a week and I never cooked. If I did, it was freezer food. 'There were a lot of kebabs and Domino's. The delivery driver knew us. 'Now, I'm really into nutrition and cooking. We haven't had a takeaway at all this year and we're really proud of ourselves.' In May 2021, Ms Pashley decided that the only way to get her weight under control was to have bariatric surgery, and paid £12,500 for a gastric bypass. Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure in which surgeons reroute the intestine to a small stomach pouch which shrinks the stomach. Since the op, she has shrunk down to 12st and a wears a size 12—two sizes less than the 16 she was originally aiming for—and makes an effort to work out four times a week. In January 2025 she paid another £12,000 to have an arm and breast lift, and she plans to complete her look with a tummy tuck in September. Ms Pashley added: 'I remember the day when I was walking to the shop for some binge eating food because I'd had a really bad day and was at my heaviest, and I was crying my eyes out. 'I bumped into someone I used to work with, and she said she'd had weight loss surgery and it was the most amazing thing she'd ever done, so I went home and booked a consultation. 'When I was on the journey, I just wanted to get back to a size 16, but I kept going. 'I fit into a small skirt in Zara now, and it feels amazing because I never thought I'd get to this point.' But her journey wasn't all smooth sailing, and she remembers the fat-shaming comments hurled at her both in real life, and online where she has been sharing her weight loss journey to inspire others She said: 'Someone once told me to go and eat another sausage roll. 'And online, I tried to do plus-sized fashion, and people would say I could barely breathe trying on clothes. It was horrible. 'Now, people can't believe how much I've changed. 'In Aldi, I bumped into a girl I used to work with and said hello, and she completely blanked me. 'Then she messaged me asking if that was me, and she didn't recognise me. It feels amazing.' However, the best part of Ms Pashley's health overhaul has been getting out and about with Jenson and her other son, 13-year-old Ethan. She said: 'My sons love rollercoasters,' Rachel, from Brighton, told What's the Jam. 'We went to a theme park and I realised that I couldn't go on the ride, so my friend had to go on with my kids. 'I couldn't walk up the stairs, and I was always too tired, so I'd take my kids to breakfast club and go back to bed. 'I couldn't run around after my children. 'We never went on bike rides, we never did anything. 'Now, we can do anything, bike rides, theme parks, days out in London, days at the gym and swimming. 'We've been to Disneyland Paris, and I didn't have to worry about getting on the rides. It was amazing. 'I was really depressed before and struggled with buying clothing, but I'm so much more confident now. 'The best part of this journey isn't the weight loss, it's getting my life back. 'I can finally be present for my boys, enjoy days out, and feel proud of the woman I've become.' 'I used to eat rubbish all day and barely move, I just didn't have the energy. 'Now, I fuel my body with real food, I move every day, and I finally feel like I'm living, not just existing.'
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Band of brothers pen new song in tribute to Kayla
A Norfolk band has written a special "uplifting" song in honour of a seven-year-old girl they befriended during her treatment for cancer. The single, Kayla's Song, will feature in an album that will raise money for East Anglia's Children's Hospice, in honour of the support her family received. Kayla was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in May 2021 and died in May this year - without getting the chance to hear the single. Glen Spooner, of the Norwich band Sons of Mark, said: "We wanted it to be uplifting, we wanted it to celebrate Kayla's life because she was an amazing little girl." Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk's Breakfast Show, Kayla's mum Stacey said she did not want childhood cancer to become a "taboo subject". "Kayla was three years old when she was diagnosed with high risk stage four neuroblastoma... I couldn't even tell you how many amounts of chemotherapy and stuff she had. "We spent two years solidly fighting relapse... we were then hit with a brick wall and unfortunately there wasn't any treatment options available." The family began fundraising soon after Kayla's diagnosis, raising £280,000 in nine months with hopes of their daughter going abroad for treatment. Stacey first met band members and brothers Owen and Glen Spooner after they played a gig for Kayla in 2022 and they remained firm friends, and she said her seven-year-old "fell in love" with them. She contacted Owen about writing a song for Kayla. "We felt a lot of pressure obviously... having [Stacey's] blessing through it meant the world to us," said Owen. "Obviously it's sad, but we wanted it to be celebrating as well." The single will feature on the band's new album where all proceeds will go towards EACH's The Nook, where Kayla's family were supported. Stacey said: "They try and make it a home from home... you have your privacy when you are going through the worst times. "I could really just turn into being just mum, not the caregiver, not the medicine giver, not the pain management giver - which is what my life has been for four years. "They allowed me to just be mum again and just be present with my children." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Duchess gets help from 'army of little helpers' Charity shop volunteers thanked for dedication East Anglia's Children's Hospices
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Norwich duo pen new song in tribute to Kayla
A Norfolk band has written a special "uplifting" song in honour of a seven-year-old girl they befriended during her treatment for single, Kayla's Song, will feature in an album that will raise money for East Anglia's Children's Hospice, in honour of the support her family was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in May 2021 and died in May this year - without getting the chance to hear the Spooner, of the Norwich band Sons of Mark, said: "We wanted it to be uplifting, we wanted it to celebrate Kayla's life because she was an amazing little girl." Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk's Breakfast Show, Kayla's mum Stacey said she did not want childhood cancer to become a "taboo subject". "Kayla was three years old when she was diagnosed with high risk stage four neuroblastoma... I couldn't even tell you how many amounts of chemotherapy and stuff she had."We spent two years solidly fighting relapse... we were then hit with a brick wall and unfortunately there wasn't any treatment options available."The family began fundraising soon after Kayla's diagnosis, raising £280,000 in nine months with hopes of their daughter going abroad for treatment. 'Means the world' Stacey first met band members and brothers Owen and Glen Spooner after they played a gig for Kayla in 2022 and they remained firm friends, and she said her seven-year-old "fell in love" with contacted Owen about writing a song for Kayla."We felt a lot of pressure obviously... having [Stacey's] blessing through it meant the world to us," said Owen."Obviously it's sad, but we wanted it to be celebrating as well." The single will feature on the band's new album where all proceeds will go towards EACH's The Nook, where Kayla's family were said: "They try and make it a home from home... you have your privacy when you are going through the worst times."I could really just turn into being just mum, not the caregiver, not the medicine giver, not the pain management giver - which is what my life has been for four years."They allowed me to just be mum again and just be present with my children." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Free Malaysia Today
08-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Diagnosed with rare cancer, Fatin Umairah Azme needs your help
Fatin Umairah Azme urgently needs the immunotherapy drug Qarziba, but its six-figure cost is beyond what her family can afford. (CCEP Foundation pic) PETALING JAYA : Most 16-year-old girls spend their time with friends, chatting about music and movies or planning for life after high school. But for Fatin Umairah Azme, the reality is far more challenging: she has been diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. This is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that starts in cells called neuroblasts, or immature nerve cells. Neuroblastoma often begins in the adrenal glands, which are located on top of the kidneys. It can also develop in the spine, abdomen, neck or chest. Over time, the cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body – most commonly to the lymph nodes, liver, bone marrow, skin and bones. Now, Fatin needs a life-saving immunotherapy drug called Qarziba, which would cost her family a staggering RM578,000. Fatin's father, Azme Tomezi, said she began suffering from stomach pain in January 2023. Although her condition initially improved after visiting a clinic and taking medication, the pain would recur. 'In January 2024, it became unbearable. She couldn't sleep at night due to severe abdominal cramps. I had no choice but to take her to the hospital for scans,' Azme said. After several tests, the doctors suspected cancer. But as the hospital lacked specialised care, Fatin was referred elsewhere. In March last year, a biopsy was performed and Fatin was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. She began chemotherapy that same month. Further examinations, however, revealed swollen lymph nodes in her neck and that the tumour had spread to her left adrenal gland and cervical region. In August, Fatin underwent surgery to remove the tumour. During the procedure, the doctors discovered malignant growths along her intestinal wall and on her kidney, which were removed as well. Initially, the doctors had planned to include a stem-cell transplant as part of Fatin's treatment. But they then discovered one of her kidneys had been damaged, making it too dangerous to proceed. Fatin subsequently began radiotherapy, and her final session ended on March 7. CCEP Foundation CEO Yvonne Yee is appealing to the public to help Fatin and her family in their time of need. (CCEP Foundation pics) Today, Fatin weighs only 41kg. While this is a slight improvement from her lowest weight of 34kg, she remains very frail – and in need of urgent support. The only viable option for her is immunotherapy, and Qarziba is her only hope. Unfortunately, the cost is far more than what her family can afford. Azme is a production staff at an air-conditioner appliance company, while his wife is a homemaker. Fatin is the third of five siblings, all of whom are studying. To raise funds, the family has reached out to CCEP Foundation, an NGO dedicated to assisting the needy, poor, deprived and underprivileged. According to its CEO, Yvonne Yee, Fatin will need 25 to 30 vials of Qarziba, which will cost a total of RM578,000. Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, Yee shared that the foundation began fundraising on June 30 and has only raised about RM3,000 so far. 'This overwhelming medical cost is unimaginable for Fatin's family. We sincerely appeal to the kindness of the public to come forward and help her fight this battle,' said Yee. To help Fatin, donations can be made directly to CCEP Foundation, RHB Bank account number 2621 9300 009 342. Please use the reference 'Fatin'. If you require a receipt, kindly send them a WhatsApp message. To request a tax-exempt receipt, please fill out your details here. Receipts will be issued within 14 working days. Learn more about CCEP Foundation here, or contact 03-7955 9999 / 010-279 8849.
