Jamie Inglis appeal

Jamie Inglis (age 4) was diagnosed with an abdominal tumour on 01 Apr 09 as he had suddenly become unwell in nursery.  His father, a serving Army SSgt and Ex RAF Mover in British Forces Germany, was in the UK on an inspection in Catterick Garrison at the time and was flown home on compassionate grounds within 4 hours.  After several days the hospital diagnosed Neuroblastoma stage 4 and found out that it was MYCN amplified (aggressive form) The cancer had also infiltrated the bone marrow as well. His prognosis was given to be 20-30% survival so his parents were absolutely devastated. The MIGB scan revealed that it had spread from his kidney into the femurs of both legs and around the orbital in his eye and some of the lymph nodes. 

He started chemo after all the tests for high risk Neuroblastoma. He was very sick at first and the family were in hospital for 7 weeks without break. The tumour was so big that it started to affect his breathing and he would not eat or drink or hardly move in his bed. After a month or so he started to improve a little and gain some mobility with physio. After several blocks of chemo he started to respond well to the treatment. After block 6 he became very ill and developed pneumonia and he suffered a sepsis which required ventilation on an ICU for two weeks. For 24 hours his situation was very critical and we were very close to losing him but he managed to pull through. Two weeks after this incident he received his Op to remove the affected kidney and tumour which was carried out successfully however there are still residual tumour cells remaining. He has now had 7 of 8 blocks of chemo and will then receive high dose to complete his treatment. 

During his treatment his father was posted from Herford to Monchengladbach were Jamie’s wife works as a teacher at JHQ in Rhine Military Complex so they could be together as a family and also in closer proximity to where Jamie was receiving his treatment in Dusseldorf. The army welfare, local community and friends have been very supportive and the military health service (British Forces Germany Health Service) have helped the family right from the outset. The hospital facilities and staff have been fantastic and Jamie’s father has been given time off work by the Army since April to look after Jamie as his mum was pregnant at the time, giving birth to a baby girl in July 09.

Even though Jamie has responded well to the initial treatment the chances of his cancer relapsing over the next year is very high (40% of cases). The relapse is normally caused by microscopic cells which have survived the chemo and is referred to as minimal residual disease (MRD).  Unfortunately when the children relapse the prognosis for survival is reduced significantly and the chance of a cure is very small. A recent antibody trial in the States has been very successful as it targets the MRD and improves the chances of survival by 20%. This treatment may well become a standard regime in the future, however, Jamie does not have time as he will require this treatment within 90 days of completing his high dose which he is due to complete by Feb 2010.
 
This potential life saving treatment is available at the Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. This treatment, however, doesn’t come cheap. We need to raise £250,000 before Jamie can be given the potentially life-saving therapy.

Raffle Prizes

• Lunch with Lesley Smith (Most Haunted)
• 2 places for London Tombs Ghost Hunt
• Set of 5 Prestige Pans
• Ticket to Warwick Castle
• Veuve Clicquot Champagne Travel Set
• Radio Alarm
• Bath Set
• Bottles of Beer