Seb Boulter is now starting secondary school in remission (Image: Claire Boulter)
A young cancer survivor who started chemotherapy on his fourth birthday is celebrating a milestone his mum feared he would never see. Seb Boulter, now 11, managed just one hour in his uniform on his first day of primary school before being whisked away for more gruelling treatment. After more than 1,200 days of therapy, he is now proudly starting secondary school in remission.
Mum Claire, 42, said: “Seeing your child start secondary school is an ordinary milestone that most families take for granted, but for us it means everything. Seb missed lots of school, and because he was at risk of getting an infection, he missed out on playdates and days out. We didn’t go on holiday for three years.
“His treatment made him so ill he couldn’t even walk. I remember taking him to the school fete and he was all puffed up on steroids in a wheelchair, and I thought: Will he ever go to school again?”
Seb, of Tring, Herts, was diagnosed with a rare and fast-growing blood cancer after doctors at Stoke Mandeville Hospital found an 11cm mass in his chest. Tests confirmed lymphoblastic lymphoma, which affects around 400 children each year in the UK.
Claire said: “Looking back, he had all the classic symptoms — repeated infections, extreme tiredness, looking pale, and losing weight.
“When I noticed a protruding vein from his neck to his groin, I was advised to take him to A&E and from that moment, our world turned upside down.”
After having steroids, Seb started chemotherapy just six days later, on his fourth birthday. Claire added: “He managed to eat some chocolate cake but was then hooked up to a chemo drip.
“Over the next three years of treatment, cancer took away so many special moments from Seb. Other children were making friends and playing football. Seb was alone in a hospital room, fighting for his life.”
The schoolboy endured harsh treatment side effects, including hair loss, depression, sickness, brain fog and mouth ulcers. He underwent more than 2,000 medical procedures, 10 blood transfusions and three emergency ambulance rides.
Seb endured three years of gruelling treatment for his disease (Image: Claire Boulter)
Seb was finally given the all-clear in June 2022 and has worked hard to rebuild his life — forming strong friendships, performing well academically and becoming a keen football player.
The family raised £6,000 for Blood Cancer UK with a “Seb Fest” event marking the end of his treatment.
They are sharing his story now in support of the charity’s Here for This campaign, which highlights the milestones patients miss during their treatment.
Blood Cancer UK’s director of engagement, Matthew White, said: “Every day, blood cancer snatches away people’s joyful moments and milestones — special birthdays, festive occasions, first days at school or university, job opportunities, weddings and the chance to be parents.
“We want to raise awareness so people understand the devastating impact it can have and support us.
“We want to showcase the amazing resilience of those who adapt to these moments or celebrate once they have come through treatment, and to pay tribute to the researchers who are helping people recover from cancer or live a better quality of life.
“Science is giving people ordinary and extraordinary moments that matter.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
