‘My son was diagnosed with cancer two days before Christmas and our whole world just ended’

His parents quickly launched a major fundraising drive to help their youngest child get on a pioneering trial to help save his life

It is now nearly five years since a devoted couple’s world was thrown into turmoil when their two-year-old son was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer, just two days before Christmas.

The parents of Dundonald boy Zion Cassidy were devastated to learn he had neuroblastoma on December 23 2020 and quickly launched a major fundraising drive to help their youngest child get on a pioneering trial to help save his life.

With his infectious smile and inspiring attitude, little Zion captured the hearts of people across Northern Ireland and with incredible support from the public, his parents, Claire and Jonny, raised £200,000 for the young boy to embark on a pioneering trial in America.

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The couple knew something wasn’t right with their son as he hadn’t been sleeping well. But nothing could prepare them for what lay ahead after doctors discovered a mass of over 13cm on his left kidney.

Scans and biopsies revealed Zion had neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that affects around 100 children each year in the UK.

Zion started on a gruelling treatment pathway here in Northern Ireland, but it took its toll on his tiny body and his parents knew it was vital that Zion get on a trial to give him the best chance of beating the disease.

Now aged 7 and in P3 at Dundonald Primary School, the little brother of Liberty, 26, and Eden, aged 11, is in a much better place.

Zion’s mum, Claire: “Zion was diagnosed with cancer two days before Christmas and all our plans for the festivities ceased. Our whole world, as we knew it, just ended. Thankfully now things are really good and there’s still no evidence of disease. We’re just trying to get back to living a normal life with all the complexities that treatment brings.

“Treatment has a big impact on children. You don’t realise this whenever you’re going through it until afterwards, and they’re dealing with the long term side effects. We’re actually learning things about him every day now and how that treatment has impacted him.

“Looking back at that time now, there are days where it feels like it was only yesterday and others where it feels like it was a lifetime ago.”

Claire added: “We are so thankful for services like Cancer Fund for Children who have helped us have moments during the Christmases since to rebuild our love for the season and to have time together in a safe environment with other families living this new normal.”

Cancer Fund for Children provides emotional, social and therapeutic support to children, young people and families impacted by cancer, at home, in hospital and at the charity’s therapeutic short break centre, Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Co Down.

This Christmas, they are asking the public to get behind their Gift of Joy campaign so they can continue to create special moments for families when they need them most.

By supporting Cancer Fund for Children, you will be providing: therapeutic breaks at Daisy Lodge where families can reconnect in a safe space; individual support sessions with dedicated Cancer Support Specialists where family members can process their feelings and learn skills to better cope with the impact of cancer; festive events where families can make memories and focus on having fun.

Claire added: “When Zion was well enough, we stayed at Daisy Lodge and we attended the charity’s family events, meeting Santa and making happy Christmas memories again. These moments are so precious, especially during our very uncertain and foggy journey through Zion’s cancer diagnosis.

“Please consider supporting Cancer Fund for Children this Christmas. There are very likely parents like us, sitting with their tiny human in a hospital room, being told their precious baby has cancer and they need people like you to keep services like Cancer Fund for Children alive, to support them on their cancer journey!”

CEO of Cancer Fund for Children, Phil Alexander, said: “Approximately 40 children and young people (aged 0-24) could be diagnosed with cancer this festive season. Christmas is usually a time for joy but for these children and their families, even being together will be a challenge.