South Shields baby battling cancer spends weekend at home after month in hospital

Little Roman Hansen is undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with pleuropulmonary blastoma.

Roman - who is just 15-weeks-old - was given his first dose last week and was allowed home at the weekend - the first time since he was admitted to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary last month.

As well as starting the long road in his battle to rid his tiny body of the disease, he is also recovering from having half his lung removed. To be able to be allowed home his parents Amanda and Stephen, from West Harton, South Shields, were taught how to look after and clean his Hickman Line - used to administer his dose of chemotherapy - and what to do in an emergency.

Amanda said: “We came home on Saturday, we unpacked, washed the clothes and packed again ready to go at any point.

“It was really scary but it was important for us to take the chance to spend time as a family. I trusted the consultants and the staff when they said it would be okay.

“This weekend has been a huge rollercoaster. We have tried to enjoy the weekend with family, but we have always had the fear in the back of our minds that something was going to go wrong and he was going to be rushed back into hospital.

“At the moment he is doing great but we know that could change as the chemotherapy continues. We know there are going to be good days and bad days.”

Amanda added: “It’s important for us to be able to bring Roman home when we can as we know he is going to spend a lot of his time in hospital where a lot of his milestones are going to happen, so it would be nice for some of them to happen at home. This weekend he giggled for the first time and that happened when he was at home - that was really special.

“We have had so much support from our family and our friends but there have been some people commenting that he doesn’t look sick as he’s still a smiling little baby boy.

“It seems that if people can’t see how ill a person is on the outside then they don’t think it’s real or that it doesn’t exist but that is certainly not the case.

“What he has been through and what he will have to go through is just unimaginable.”

A justgiving page has been set up to support the family as Roman battles cancer to help with hospital car parking charges and bills. Anyone who would like to donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/baby-roman