Mum's impassioned plea for help for charity that has transformed brave son Kayden's life

Kayden Haw has battled cancer, suffered a heart attack and cardiac arrest and been the victim of Septicaemia.

He now has profound brain damage and mum Emma, from Boston, says the Rainbows Hospice has helped them so much – and she is urging local people to back its fundraising appeal.

“Rainbows is such a wonderful place and everyone there has helped me and Kayden so much,” said Emma. “Rainbows cares for us both in so many different ways and we couldn’t imagine a world without Rainbows.”

She says the hospice, which is based in Loughborough and the only one of its kind in the East Midlands, has allowed Kayden to join in with things she never thought he would be able to do. Kayden underwent bowel surgery when he was just one-day-old. Six weeks later he was in theatre again. He recovered but when he was eight-months-old, Kayden suffered a seizure.

“Gradually the seizures became more often so at 18-months-old, Kayden underwent thorough testing,” said Emma.

“That is when I was told it was acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. At the time, I thought Kayden was just being investigated for something not too serious and when I heard leukaemia, I just didn’t know how to feel, my whole world stopped right there. It was awful and it was all so fast. We were rushed to the hospital from the doctors; it was heart-breaking.”

Kayden had intense chemotherapy for six months and a year after his diagnosis, he was in hospital for scans when he suddenly became very ill. He was taken to the High Dependency Unit where he suffered a cardiac arrest.

“Kayden spent four weeks in ICU where he developed a nasty infection and septicaemia took hold of his body,” said Emma. “Doctors didn’t have much hope for Kayden, however as always, he proved everyone wrong.”

Kayden was left with brain damage and unable to do basic tasks such as walking, sitting, feeding or talking. He also has epilepsy and osteoporosis.

“Over the years we have seen small improvements which mean the world to me. He can smile and laugh and is a very happy little boy,” said Emma. “One of the best things is that since 2014, he has been cancer free. But Kayden is still very poorly and he really needs the care he gets from Rainbows.

“This has been a big learning curve for me, I left hospital with a completely different child to the one I went in with. But we have had a lot of support from family and friends and Rainbows. I know if I am struggling with anything, my Family Support worker is always at the end of the phone.

“Rainbows is somewhere we can go and enjoy together. He loves swimming and that is incredible. I never thought he would be able to swim. He just loves the pool and I go in sometimes. My meals are made and there is no stress or worry. The service means so much to us so please, if you can help families like ours, then do so.”