An Armagh schoolboy who has been bravely battling leukaemia is now in remission, it has been confirmed.
Family of Theo Smyth, who celebrated his 12th birthday last month, are delighted to give an update on the condition of the St Patrick’s Grammar schoolboy who has taken everyone to their hearts.
There has been a widespread fundraising appeal across Armagh and beyond to help since the shock diagnosis last year.
It was last July, aged 11, that Theo was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia after feeling unwell for a number of weeks.
Friends set up the Theo’s Journey GoFundMe appeal and Facebook page to support the family.
Margaret Daly said at the time that Martin and Caroline Smyth’s world had been “turned upside down”.
Writing on the fundraising page, she said the couple first noticed a change in son Theo’s mood and behaviour at the end of May but put it down to puberty. After returning from a school trip, he complained of a sore chest and it was thought at that point he had pulled a muscle.
Theo then complained of exhaustion, which was attributed to a viral infection, but by mid-July he was sleeping a lot and his temperature was spiking daily.
After undergoing tests, scans and a bone marrow biopsy, Theo received his diagnosis on July 22 – the same day Martin’s mother was buried, having died suddenly three days earlier.
He had been treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Today (Friday), the Theo’s Journey provided the best possible update via social media.
It confirmed: “Theo is in REMISSION 🧡🧡🧡
“We hoped and prayed for this day for so long and are over the moon that it’s finally here 🙏🏼
“Thank you to the wonderful team in the Haematology and Oncology Unit at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children for their medical expertise 👏🏼
“Thank you to everyone who has prayed for Theo and sent get well wishes; your kindness helped Theo and his family through some very dark days 🌈
“Theo still has a journey of recovery ahead of him but for now he and his family are a going to focus on the positives that he is #cancerfree ✨
“#theosjourney #theosleukaemiajourney #childhoodcancerawareness #acutemyeloidleukemia #cancer #cancerawareness #cancerwarrior #cancerremission #remission”.
We at Armagh I are delighted to learn of the update and wish Theo and his family well in the days and weeks ahead,
