"Hello, my name is Connah. I am 5 years old and live in Gronant in North Wales with my grandparents Debbie and Jim and my dad Chris. In November 2005 I started feeling ill and complaining of pains in my side, these pains lasted no more than a couple of minutes at a time and were weeks and sometimes months apart. We went to numerous GPs and doctors in Glan Clwyd Hospital who diagnosed everything from growing pains, attention seeking to trapped wind and blocked bowels. This lasted through to August 2006, when I was finally diagnosed correctly after a lump appeared my neck.
I was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer. My illness is called neuroblastoma cancer. It is a tumour arising from particular nerve cells which run in a chain-like fashion up the back of the abdomen, chest and into the skull following the line of spinal cord. My condition is classed as Neuroblastoma Stage 4 High Risk. There are no higher stages.
Only approximately 80 children a year are diagnosed with this horrible disease and the survival rate is 1 in 5. The primary tumour is sited across my abdomen with other tumors in my chest, lymph glands, arm, shoulder and in both legs above the knee; it is also in my bones and bone marrow. I have been having chemotherapy since August and while it has stopped growth and a little shrinkage has taken place there is no evidence that the treatment is going to cure me. Unfortunately there is very little funding in the UK for research into neuroblastoma, which quite often means that children have to go to other Countries outside the EC for further treatment. This has to be funded solely by family and friends and with donations. Treatment in America for my condition costs upwards of $250,000 for the initial treatment.
It is the aim of the appeal to provide funding for treatment for my survival should the treatment which I am receiving in the UK be unsuccessful and treatment be available outside of the UK. Should any monies raised not be required for this cause it will all be donated to research into neuroblastoma cancer.
I am asking for donations for my fund; any donation is accepted with gratitude, and thank you for taking time to read my story.
STOP PRESS: You can now buy a CD "Inspiration of the Soul" to help Connah in his fight. Only £5.99. The front cover of the CD shows a painting of the same name that Sean has done for Connah - see it here. Connah himself can be contacted here.
An excerpt from Connah's diary:
"On Sunday we had four visitors from Manchester. Their names were Pat, Charles, Sean and Dorothy. They were excellent fun to be with and they helped me to do art work using proper acrylic paints and proper canvas to work on. I used brushes and I used my hands which was even better. They took lots of photos of me working on my art and then said that they would have my artwork properly framed for me. Some of my artwork will be sold to raise funds for my American treatment.
So if you want to collect some original, first edition artwork by the newest Welsh artist, Mr Connah Broom, let me know through the messages on this site.
I really enjoyed being with Pat, Sean, Charles and Dorothy because they played lots of games with me and then we all went out for a nice meal."
