Battling Newcastle toddler Kian Musgrove heads back to America for cancer treatment; Kian Musgrove and his family have been nominated for four Chronicle Champions Awards as his battle for life continues.
Byline: Craig Thompson
A sick Tyneside toddler is flying off to America today for the latest pioneering medical treatment in a desperate bid to save his life.
Kian Musgrove will be returning to the Helen Devos Children's Hospital in Michigan to undergo the next bout of his [pounds sterling]140,000 treatment, designed to stop the cancer which almost killed him returning.
The family will head off from Newcastle Airport on Thursday after receiving four of nominations in this year's Chronicle Champions Awards.
Three-year-old Kian has been nominated in the Child of Courage category, while mum, Kat, 26, has been put forward for as our Champion Mum. Kian sister, Katie, five, has been nominated in the Young Role Model category while family friend, Glynn Ferris , who has helped raise more than [pounds sterling]15,000 for the family, is nominated as Champion Fundraiser.
During the next two years, Kian and Kat are expected to make the trip another four times, after the toddler was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma on October 31, 2013.
It took eight months, but eventually Kian's cancer was no longer detectable to the delight of his family. But their joy was short-lived when medics revealed there was an 80% chance the cancer would return.
The family hope the treatment in America will prevent that relapse occurring. The youngster, from Newbiggin Hall, has been receiving pioneering DFMO treatment which is only available in the US.
Kat said: "Kian is doing really well at the minute. He's just started nursery school and he appears to be fine.
"We will be in America for the next 12 days but the doctors over there seem really positive about the way things are going.
"I'm delighted with the nominations we've received for the awards, it's nice that people are also recognising Glynn and all the fundraising he has done for us."
Following his initial diagnosis, Kian's little body was left riddled with 27 different tumours.
The illness first attacked his nerve cells around the kidneys on an adrenal gland where a tumour had developed. It then travelled around his body and spread to his bones and across his pelvis.
Chemotherapy and numerous operations followed, including the removal of a stem cell and subsequent immunotherapy treatment.
It took eight months, but eventually Kian's cancer was no longer detectable but the family were told there was an 80% chance of it...
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