A mother has told how she realised her young son had leukaemia after reading a book about a child with the condition and the same symptoms.

Joanne Morris suspected her son Alexander was sick when she noticed he was feeling exhausted and bruising easily on a family holiday aged just four in summer 2009.

She immediately took him to the GP because she remembered reading a book a decade before about a youngster who had bruised easily and had leukaemia.

And her worst fears were confirmed when he was referred to Rochdale Infirmary for tests and just hours later was given the devastating news he had some form of leukaemia.

He was due to join the reception class at Bury Grammar School with his twin sister Annabel that autumn but instead missed the first term because he spent so much time in hospital.

Alexander, now six, will continue to receive treatment until November 2012 but is back in the classroom and enjoying school.

He has coped so well that his headteacher Hilary Hutton has nominated him for a Cancer Research UK Little Star award, acknowledging the challenges faced by youngsters who encounter cancer.

She said: “The news that Alexander was not joining the class and was in hospital being treated for leukaemia came as a big shock to everyone.

“Alexander has been an inspiration to us all. he never complains or expects to be treated differently.”

Alexander’s mum Joanne, 39, and dad Christian, 39, praised their son’s bravery.

Joanne added: “I just knew that Alexander had leukaemia as I remembered reading a book about a child who bruised easily. So, even though the news was a huge blow to the family, it didn’t feel that much of a shock. Alexander was too ill initially to ask us any questions about what was wrong with him, but he now understands that he has ‘poorly blood’ and needs to go to hospital every two weeks.

“He absolutely loves all the staff at the hospital and actually enjoys going there as it’s been such a huge part of his life up to now.”

The awards, in partnership with TK Maxx, are open to all under 18s who have cancer or have undergone treatment in the last five years.

To nominate a child visit cancerresearchuk.org/littlestar .

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Nathan Williams is at war with his own body.

Though daily battles are tough, this 10-year-old optimist goes to sleep each night victorious.

Nathan has Tourette Syndrome, or TS.

According to the Tourette Syndrome Association, TSA, website, Tourette’s is a neurological disorder that becomes evident in early childhood or adolescence, usually before the age of 18. Tourette Syndrome is defined by multiple motor and verbal tics. the first symptoms usually are involuntary movements of the face, arms, limbs or trunk. These tics are frequent, repetitive and rapid. the most common first symptom is a facial tic such as an eye blink, nose twitch, grimace and is replaced or compounded by other tics of the neck, trunk, and limbs.

Part of Nathan’s strategies in dealing with TS is to chew gum, carry a stress ball, mentor other children with the condition, educate the public about the syndrome, and raise money to find a cure.

The Fontana youngster does most on a daily basis with the latter culminating on Sept. 3 when Nathan, his family, friends and supporters participate in the Disneyland Marathon Family 5K benefit, “One Lap Closer to a Cure.”

Nathan has collected more than $800 toward his $1,200 goal. Donations can be sent to TSA headquarters in new York in Nathan’s name.

“I really want to help find a cure for Tourette’s,” said Nathan, a fifth-grader at Alta Loma Elementary School. “Also the money raised will go to help me and others with TS become more confident.”

Nathan was about 8 when he was diagnosed with mild to moderate TS.

“He had rapid eye blinks and threw his wrist around,” said his mother Jackie Williams. “I thought he had allergies or was playing too many video games. then it got worse and he started clearing his throat a lot.”

Jackie took Nathan to see his pediatrician, who had a suspicion that it might be TS, even though there is no definitive test.

According to the TSA website, a diagnosis is made by observing symptoms and by evaluating the history of their onset. no blood analysis or other type of neurological testing exists to diagnose TS. However, some physicians may wish to order an EEG, MRI, CAT scan, or certain blood tests to rule out other ailments that might be confused with TS. Rating scales are available for assessment of tic severity.

A year after his initial visit, Nathan’s diagnosis was confirmed.

“That’s when we knew it wasn’t going away,” Jackie said.

Nathan started an endless stream of medical appointments, testing and drug therapy. It takes time, and a lot of trial and error, to find the right combination of behavior modification and medication to ease TS symptoms while inflicting the least amount of side effects.

“The side effects can be so awful; some of the medications made him so drowsy and lethargic,” Jackie said. “He’s on his fifth medication. It helps him get through the day, but the tics are still there.”

School is a challenge. “When anyone hears about someone who has Tourette, they always assume it’s the worst-case scenario,” she said. “Thanks to movies and television that’s usually coprolalia (pronounced kop-ruh-ley-lee-uh).”

Coprolalia are complex verbal tics including utterances of inappropriate statements or obscenities.

Though Nathan doesn’t have coprolalia, nor are his tics severe, friends and classmates still gave him a hard time.

“My friends would say to me, `Stay still,’ and I would tell them, `I can’t,”‘ Nathan said.

Trying to make things easier for her son and educate his peers and school staff, Jackie wanted to go to the school and address his class.

“What people don’t understand scares them,” Jackie said.

Nathan didn’t like the idea.

“I was embarrassed,” he said. “I wanted to keep it a secret. But then I talked to my mom and told her it was all right to tell. Once I let it out, life became a whole lot easier.”

Jackie, Nathan, Alta Loma Elementary school principal Stephanie Devisser, the school’s nurse and the district’s nurse explained to Nathan’s class what Tourette Syndrome is, what causes the symptoms and that it’s not contagious.

Things got a lot better for Nathan after that. He’s even come up with his own catch phrase: “Watch out, tics, you’re not the only move I can make.”

He’s become a mentor to a younger student with Tourette. “Sometimes the nurse will ask me, `Could you go and talk to him? He’s having a hard day.’ and I do,” Nathan said. “I talk to him, be his friend and tell him those kids that give him a hard time aren’t cool. It’s not cool to make fun of someone with Tourette Syndrome. It’s not cool to make fun of anybody.”

As Jackie listens to her son talk about something he’ll likely deal with the rest of his life, she beams with pride.

“His dad and I are his biggest fans,” she said. “Having a child with Tourette Syndrome has changed our lives and opened our eyes. We want for our son what all parents want for their children – to be happy and have a successful life. he has the right to be happy and successful. He’s so full of life and hope. Nathan is an amazing little boy.”

About faces are a warning sign of dyslexia. On its own , this condition bit by bit vanishes until the youngster is not making about faces by the end of the firs grade. it is when the condition hangs on beyond this age that farther screening for dyslexia is warranted . School teachers, together with the parents, are often the ones who first suspect that a child may be dyslexic.

What are the dyslexia symptoms that parents and teachers may notice ? usually , learning difficulties are the first clues. For example, the tyke may find it difficult to re createmeningitis symptoms words from the board or a book. his composed work may appear jumbled , with frequent misspellings and mismatched spacing , direction or letter of the alphabet size. He might likewise express forgetfulness or poor memory , failing to call up simple things such as the plot of his favourite tale . And all too oft , he experiences problems in maths. He struggles with arithmetic operations, and still with numbering numbers.

At maneuver , the minor may also expose symptoms of dyslexia. He or she as well has trouble severalising between left and aright. it is common for him to not have a penchant for either left or right hand.

The dyslexia symptoms do not barricade thither. there may also be auditory troubles, such that the nipper frequently fails to understand what he finds outkidney stones symptoms remember it. a complex or multi-step direction may be in particular confusing to him. Related to his processing difficulties, he also may say words wrong, because he has not learnt their correct sounds. his prison terms may not make any sense to others, due to respective reasons such as mispronunciation, utilization of the wrong words, and escaping words or parts of the sentence. it is many a dyslexic shaver ‘s defeat to know just what they desire to say, but fail to find the words or the ability to express it. Some children come up this so tipping over that they lose interest in communicating with others and take away into a world of their own.

Any one of these symptoms, but more likely a combination of them, can cause a dyslexic tyke to become introverted , shy , and at times still depressed. Neglecting to understand his position, his playfellows may make fun of him, exasperating the berth . the dyslexic minor may develop a low self esteem , have no protagonists , and start out to detest school and encyclopaedism in general. to a nonchalant observer , he may look like an unmotivated and otiose scholar , but of course such is not the case.

While most dyslectic children tend to be withdrawn, there are those who act out. This may be a direct locution of their frustration , but it likewise carks attention away from their scholarship difficultnesses.

When parents and teachers discover these symptoms of dyslexia, they should be open to the theory of the world of the learning disorder. Aid should be given as early as possible for the tiddler to learn to cope with his or her disability and the symptoms of dyslexia.

Who have theappendicitis symptoms

Ronald Elson was only diagnosed with the illness last year – but may have had it for 25 years.

He recently attended a star-studded event with celebrities such as Sadie Frost, Meg Matthews, Peaches Geldof, Jimi Mistry and David Morrissey to raise awareness about Hepatitis C.

Ronald, of Cranmore Drive, spoke openly to the Highland News about how he got the illness and hopes by telling his story he can banish some of the stigma surrounding the disease.

Mr Elson told the HN: “I am not sure exactly how I got it, but I snorted cocaine and dabbled in drugs as a youngster. I took intravenous drugs too. It was a craze that me and my mates were going through and at the time we didn’t realise what the consequences could be. Hep C is a blood-borne virus.”

He explained that for him the symptoms weren’t obvious until he was eventually diagnosed and successfully treated.

“Over the years I had been so confused and had very bad moods and was depressed,” he said. “I think I had the illness for about 20 to 25 years. there were so many side effects. I was erratic, and had no confidence.

“Last year I went to the doctor with joint pain – another side effect – and they tested me for a whole host of things and it was found I had Hep C.”

Mr Elson, who works for Bairds Maltings in Inverness, added: “Getting diagnosed was life changing. I was immediately treated – I had to take five tablets a day and have one injection a week for 24 weeks.

“It is intensive but it has turned my life around. in fact, the treatment is similar to what people going through chemotherapy get. you can lose you hair through the treatment.

“I had symptoms that I didn’t even know were related to Hep C such as mood swings and I am only just realising now that this is why I have been behaving in certain ways.

Ronald Elson is setting up a support group for people affected by the virus. Gary Anthony

“Having Hep C really held me back for a number of years, which is why I want to get the message out there that people can potentially be cured.”

The 46-year-old, who lives with his partner Caroline MacKinnon and who have five children between them, added: “I set up the support group because when I was in hospital getting my treatments I couldn’t figure out why there was no support for people with Hep C.

“I thought I would take matters into my own hands. there are so many people in the Highlands with Hep C. in fact, it kills more people in the UK than HIV.

“There is a definite need for the group. there is so much stigma surrounding Hep C.”

Mr Elson was recently invited along with 100 others with the illness, to an awareness-raising dinner arranged by the the Hepatitis C Trust.

He said: “It was great fun. I had to go down to London.

“The Trust invited me along as they have acknowledged that I am giving up some of my time to do this support group.

“We meet once a month and our next meeting is on January 14 at 34 Waterloo Place.” anyone is welcome to attend the support group.

For more information, call Ronald Elson on 07599 504843.

c.doughty@highland-news.co.uk

It is crucial that you get care when getting ready foods and keep away from carrying out particular issues when pregnant. It is on account of your baby’s immune method not being sufficiently developed to battle any infection you could pass to it whilst inside the womb. It is thought that a female’s immune method may not function at its peak in the course of pregnancy so it truly is crucial that each one needed precautions are used

It truly is crucial that when you have a pet that every time you come into contact with them you wash your palms completely afterwards.Pets can pass on dangerous bacteria that may be current of their faeces. you might inadvertently grow to be contaminated with this by touching your mouth or other portion in the physique and this may in flip infect your unborn youngster.

Cats are of particular importance on account of toxoplasmosis found inside their faeces. in case you have a cat that makes use of a litter tray it truly is vital that an individual else carries out this task or if this is not probable then you need to wear rubber gloves plus a encounter mask to stop any bacteria being handed. this also applies to gardening where faecal matter could be found in the soil. Once again, wear gloves and wash your palms as soon as probable after finishing.

Toxoplasmosis is attributable to a parasite. It could possibly go unnoticed in a very wholesome adult or even an unborn baby. as soon as you have this infection you will not grow to be re-infected and will be immune for lifestyle.

This is a bacteria which develops into an illness known as listeriosis. the signs or symptoms of this are gentle flu, aches and pains, sore throat and excessive temperatures. Within the extra really serious of situations this can trigger septicaemia and meningitis in unborn infants. this is the worst circumstance situation. in some situations many individuals aren’t conscious they’ve caught the bacteria as they usually do not indicate any in the previously mentioned signs or symptoms. during pregnancy, mothers need to be conscious of particular foods where this bacteria may be prevalent.

It is accurate for after pregnancy aswell especially if you’re nursing your youngster.the signs or symptoms ordinarily acquire from two to 30 days after consuming contaminated food.

Meals to Keep away from

Not all cheeses contain the bacteria but there are actually some which could be potentially dangerous to a pregnant mom.Keep away from each pasteurised and unpasteurised gentle cheeses which ordinarily have a surface mould or rind like Brie, Camembert and Danish Blue. also keep away from cheeses coated in wax like Gouda, Publish Salut. It is very best to stay distinct in the majority of blue cheeses like Stilton, Gorgonzola and Roquefort. Tough Cheeses like Cheddar, Parmesan, and Red Leicester fall to the protected category as do softer cheeses produced from pasteurised milk like Cottage cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, processed cheese and cheese spreads. if doubtful play protected and keep away from consuming it.

The salmonella bacteria are most generally found in eggs. It is very best to keep away from any foods produced with raw or partly cooked eggs like home made mayonnaise, meringues, cheesecakes, sorbets or mousses. Eggs are only protected if they’ve been cooked long enough so that their yolks are difficult.Shop-bought mayonnaises are ordinarily protected so long as they’ve been produced with pasteurised eggs. Constantly verify the label if doubtful.

Keep away from all goods which have not been pasteurised.All pasteurised goods are protected to make use of all via pregnancy and beyond.

Usually do not consume raw or beneath cooked meat or poultry. also keep away from meats which are preserved in nitrates like salami, frankfurters and luncheon meat. Constantly cook meat so the juices run distinct and there is no ‘pinkness’ or blood inside. when touching raw meat and poultry continually wash your palms completely just before touching any other foods. Liver comprises vitamin a in the form of retinol which if used by a pregnant ladies can raiseher levels way previously mentioned the suggested each day degree and grow to be damaging on the baby. Liver need to be averted aswell as goods containing liver like pate and liver sausage.

Oysters and any raw or uncooked fish need to be averted. also shelled seafood like crab, prawns, and langoustines need to be averted until they’ve been completely cooked and are sizzling. Most seafood bought from a fishmonger or grocery store need to be protected. Fresh new tuna need to only be eaten as soon as a month on account of the potential levels of mercury found inside. It is also accurate for swordfish and shark. Tinned tuna comprises decrease levels so it is protected to consume every week.

All pre pared shop bought salads are very best to become averted. So also are dressed salads like coleslaw, potato salad and Florida salad. It is very best to make your own and ensure that each one leaves are completely washed no cost from soils as well as other deposits found on the leaves.

Looking for the right preparing for pregnancy tip? if so then make sure to visit Author’s site right now!