Initially believed to be a common stomach ailment, the child's condition was revealed as cancer. Due to his sensitive immune system, hospital visits or nursery germs could prove fatal for the husband's son.
In East Sussex, Mathew Rutherford, a father of two, is currently fighting a battle against Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer that affects the immune system's white blood cells.
Mathew was diagnosed with AML at Eastbourne District General Hospital. His symptoms, which included lethargy and leg pain, were initially thought to be a simple urinary tract infection by his fiancΓ©e, Laura Lineker. However, as his condition worsened, he was unable to get out of bed, prompting Laura to call an ambulance.
Mathew was then admitted to Eastbourne Hospital, where he started chemotherapy on August 7. His condition is critical as he is neutropenic, meaning he has no immune system, and he also had sepsis, caused by an abscess.
Laura, a solicitor from Seaford, East Sussex, is facing her own challenges. She has not been able to visit Mathew due to hand, foot, and mouth disease at their children's nursery. She is deeply concerned that if she contracts the disease, it could potentially kill Mathew.
The family's children, Marnie and Freddie, are also struggling with their father's illness. Marnie, the younger child, is emotional and clingy due to not understanding her father's illness. Freddie, the older child, is asking why his father can't come home and is waking up in the night asking for him.
To help the family cover necessities during this disruption to their work, a GoFundMe page has been set up.
AML is an aggressive form of cancer that often needs urgent treatment with chemotherapy and possibly a bone marrow transplant. According to the NHS, symptoms include paleness, concerning tiredness or weakness, feeling breathless for no reason, getting regular infections, unexplained weight loss, unexplained bleeding and/or bruising. AML affects around 3,100 people each year in the UK, with 2,700 people dying from it annually. Only about a third of patients survive for one year or more after being diagnosed.
The family asks for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
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