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Coronavirus: Father and son return home after Leeds hospital lockdown | Coronavirus: Father and son return home after Leeds hospital lockdown |
(32 minutes later) | |
A four-year-old boy and his father have been reunited with their family after the lockdown separated them for seven weeks while receiving cancer treatment. | A four-year-old boy and his father have been reunited with their family after the lockdown separated them for seven weeks while receiving cancer treatment. |
Oliver Stephenson was admitted into Leeds General Infirmary on 27 April for chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in January. | Oliver Stephenson was admitted into Leeds General Infirmary on 27 April for chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in January. |
His father, James, has been at his bedside but his mother, Laura, and brother Alfie were unable to visit. | His father, James, has been at his bedside but his mother, Laura, and brother Alfie were unable to visit. |
"It was like torture waiting to come home," James Stephenson, 32, said. | "It was like torture waiting to come home," James Stephenson, 32, said. |
"It's amazing to be back. Alfie came running up and gave a massive cuddle, it was lovely. It's been a long time coming. | "It's amazing to be back. Alfie came running up and gave a massive cuddle, it was lovely. It's been a long time coming. |
"Oliver's emotional. His little world is just getting back to normal. | "Oliver's emotional. His little world is just getting back to normal. |
"He's been away from everybody for so long. Obviously he's been sat in a [hospital] room for seven weeks and not really moved so he's very weak and edgy but he's very relieved and happy to be home." | "He's been away from everybody for so long. Obviously he's been sat in a [hospital] room for seven weeks and not really moved so he's very weak and edgy but he's very relieved and happy to be home." |
The pair, from Ackworth, were shielding and had to share a room "about 4.5m (15ft) square" with a separate bathroom and a window while Oliver received high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell treatment. | The pair, from Ackworth, were shielding and had to share a room "about 4.5m (15ft) square" with a separate bathroom and a window while Oliver received high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell treatment. |
Mrs Stephenson, 34, said she was "overwhelmed" with excitement when they returned on Friday evening, after being told in the morning her son was likely to be discharged days later. | Mrs Stephenson, 34, said she was "overwhelmed" with excitement when they returned on Friday evening, after being told in the morning her son was likely to be discharged days later. |
"It's been a real emotional rollercoaster because I was gutted and then suddenly at half-past three I got a phone call saying 'yeah we're coming home'. | "It's been a real emotional rollercoaster because I was gutted and then suddenly at half-past three I got a phone call saying 'yeah we're coming home'. |
"It's been really, really difficult not being able to look after Oliver when he's so poorly. Seeing him from a distance and seeing him on the phone has been so so hard, not to be there for him." | "It's been really, really difficult not being able to look after Oliver when he's so poorly. Seeing him from a distance and seeing him on the phone has been so so hard, not to be there for him." |
She said the family would be celebrating three-year-old Alfie's belated birthday after they were unable to celebrate two weeks ago. | She said the family would be celebrating three-year-old Alfie's belated birthday after they were unable to celebrate two weeks ago. |
Supporters and neighbours lined the street with banners and gave a round of applause during the homecoming. | Supporters and neighbours lined the street with banners and gave a round of applause during the homecoming. |
"The support has been overwhelming and unreal," said Mr Stephenson. | |
He said a fundraising campaign to get Oliver to New York to take part in a clinical trial for a vaccine aimed at reducing the chance of relapse had raised £190,000, of which £90,000 had been donated while they were in hospital. | He said a fundraising campaign to get Oliver to New York to take part in a clinical trial for a vaccine aimed at reducing the chance of relapse had raised £190,000, of which £90,000 had been donated while they were in hospital. |
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