When Joey Sharp was only 11 days old, he was given a diagnosis that could have threatened his entire life. Five years later, the boy managed to beat cancer and is preparing for a new stage of life.
Sam Sharp gave birth to the child in 2020. A week after birth, Joey was hospitalized again due to decreased appetite and weight loss. The newborn from Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland, also began experiencing periodic spasms.
In the hospital, doctors noticed an infection on one of his toes, which raised suspicions of a more serious health problem. The mother recalls: 'It was such a tiny spot, it looked like a grain of sand.'
'We barely understood that within a few hours we would face our father's worst nightmare,' added Sam. Medical staff took samples of what they suspected was a tumor, and the diagnosis revealed it to be glioblastoma—an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer.
After the diagnosis, the child required three brain surgeries and nine courses of chemotherapy. Joey even participated in clinical trials to better understand infants' reactions to anti-cancer drugs.
At the end of August 2021, after the last treatment, the family was informed that there were no more signs of the disease. The mother, quoted by Sky News, recalls: 'We were prepared for the fact that more surgeries would likely be needed, so hearing those words was astonishing. For the first time in months, we felt like we could finally breathe again.'
The five-year-old boy has lasting effects from the illness, including cerebral palsy, limited mobility in his right arm, and the need to use a wheelchair for long distances. Nevertheless, he recently achieved an important milestone: going to school for the first time. This achievement brought pride to everyone, as the family never imagined it would be possible.
Meanwhile, Joey's mother is involved in various initiatives aimed at advancing research into childhood cancer. She will soon participate in a marathon in Edinburgh to raise funds for a research center and attempt to find a cure for glioblastoma. Sky News notes that Scotland is the first nation in the UK to develop a strategy to combat cancer in children and young people.