Friends raise thousands to help Derbyshire teen whose toothache revealed cancer

South Wingfield resident Ethan Harrison, 19, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia after being rushed into Chesterfield Royal Hospital on May 17, four days after he visited the dentist with a complaint about his wisdom tooth.

Mum Roxy Bond, 37, said: “He’d been having a few different symptoms and we just put it down to the tooth, but then the dentist said he needed to be looked at by a doctor.

“We went to the GP, they did a blood test and the results came back 12 hours later. His levels were all over the place and we were told we needed to get to A&E immediately.

“We were rushed through at the hospital because the doctors and nurses already knew it was probably leukaemia. When the diagnosis came it was very surreal and just very, very unexpected.

“The team at the hospital said if he hadn’t come in he would have only had a few weeks to live. It felt like a story you’d hear about someone else, not your son.”

Having caught the cancer when they did, the prognosis is encouraging – though it will be an arduous road to recovery.

Roxy said: “They’ve said it will be a long process to treat it but it’s very curable. It could be about a year before Ethan returns to full health, depending on how his body reacts and he’ll be in hospital more than he’s home during that time.

“We’re expecting four rounds of chemotherapy. Starting the first one last week, he’ll be in for a month, being treated twice a day with two different drugs.”

She added: “He’s never been in hospital before and now he’s having bone marrow biopsies, PICC lines inserted and constant blood tests. He’s reacted so far with a sense of humour, nothing’s phased him.

“All he’ll say is, ‘What an inconvenience.’” We’re a very positive family and he’s been brilliant. I’m so proud of how he’s handling it.”

Ethan, a former agriculture student at Derby College’s Broomfield Hall campus, has had to take sick leave from his job as a forklift driver at Lockwood Haulage near Ambergate.

The news has upended family life too, with business consultant Roxy delaying the start of a new job to stay at the hospital.

She said: “I’ll be there day and night. As horrible as the situation is, me and Ethan enjoy spending time together. We’re watching films, colouring and keeping busy – there’s always another doctor or nurse to talk to.”

Back home husband Chris is holding the fort with Ethan’s siblings William, 18, and Gracie, 12.

Roxy said: “It’s had a ripple effect on everything but I don’t think anyone can really believe it yet. Cancer’s never been a thing in our family.

"It has shown how much support we have around us though. Everyone has been super shocked but offering so much help.”

One arm of that support network is Ethan’s group of friends, who have set up a fundraising campaign to see him through the darkest days ahead, racing to almost £3,500 within a week.

Friend Livinia Wragg said: “Despite everything that has been thrown at him, Ethan continues to amaze us every single day.

“Anyone who knows him will know exactly the kind of person he is — kind, caring, funny, witty and unbelievably generous. Somehow, even through all of this, he is still managing to stay positive and keep us smiling.”

Roxy added: “It means everything to see that support. Sometimes in this world humans get a bad rap, but something like this proves how amazing people are, and we’re really grateful.

“Ethan will be able to spend it however he wants, but one thing we’ve talked about is kitting out his bedroom for when he comes home to recover. He needs a nice, comfortable space so we’re in the process of decorating and making it extra special.

“The doctors have said it’s going to be a really rough ride, so we want to give Ethan the best of everything when he’s home.”

To add to that support, go to gofundme.com/f/ethans-journey-through-leukaemia.