Schoolboy, seven, is diagnosed with cancer after suffering headaches and losing his appetite
A seven-year-old boy was diagnosed with cancer after he suffered headaches and went off his food.
Leighland Reddin, from Morley, West Yorkshire, started complaining of head pain and stopped eating or drinking in November 2024.
His mother, Stacey, 28, took Leighland to hospital as soon as she noticed the changes in his behaviour.
The child had a blood test which came back normal, so Stacey thought her son had a viral infection. But the symptoms persisted.
Stacey went back to the doctors in January 2025 and Leighland underwent another blood test and a bone marrow test which revealed he had bone marrow leukaemia.
Over the next two years, Leighland will need weekly chemotherapy and his family is raising money to take him on his dream holiday to Disneyland Paris once he has recovered.
Stacey, a full-time mother, from Morley, West Yorkshire, said: ‘I would not wish this on my worst enemy.
‘This has been a nightmare and came as a massive shock to our family.
‘This isn’t even something that should cross any parent’s mind.’
A seven-year-old boy was diagnosed with cancer after he suffered headaches and went off his food. Leighland Reddin (pictured), from Morley, West Yorkshire, started complaining of head pain and stopped eating or drinking in November 2024
Stacey went back to the doctors in January 2025 and Leighland underwent another blood test and a bone marrow test which revealed he had bone marrow leukaemia
She added: ‘I thought it was a viral infection, the doctors performed a blood test which came back all normal.
‘We left it a little longer and I noticed there was no change so I went back to the doctors.
‘The doctors told me to go up to Dewsbury Hospital for more blood tests.’
Doctors at Dewsbury Hospital phoned Stacey to say that they needed to go back to the hospital as soon as possible as the blood test results showed that his white blood cells were low and Leighland had lost half a stone in weight.
They were then transferred to Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, for more blood tests before being transferred to Leeds General Hospital.
His mother, Stacey, 28, took Leighland to hospital as soon as she noticed his symptoms. The child had a blood test which came back normal, so Stacey thought her son had a viral infection. But the symptoms persisted
Stacey recalled: ‘When we arrived in Leeds, Leighland went for a bone marrow test and later that afternoon we were told that he had bone marrow leukaemia and would need to undergo chemotherapy once a week for two years.
‘The news came as a massive shock to my family and me.
‘I cannot stress enough to parents if there is something wrong with your child you need to go get it checked.’
Since starting chemotherapy, Leighland has been under constant supervision and lost his hair due to the treatment.
Despite this, Stacey said that he is still the apple of their family’s eye and has been told he will make a full recovery.
Now, the family are raising funds to take Leighland to Disneyland once he has completed chemotherapy.
‘He is really tired because of the treatment he is having,’ Stacey said.
‘They started chemotherapy pretty much straight away. He started losing his hair and made the choice that he wanted it shaven off.
‘It has been a long process.
‘He is a brilliant kid, before he got poorly he was fantastic and put a smile on everyone’s face.’
