Celebrations all round as young Kaiden gets to ring the cancer bell in school after being given the all-clear

A ten year-old boy from Leeds has had a special school celebration after being given the all-clear from cancer.
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Kaiden Lumb was unable to mark the end of his gruelling treatment for a rare type of bone cancer with the usual tradition of ringing the bell on his hospital ward followed by a party with family and friends due to coronavirus restrictions- so staff on ward 31, the Children's and Adolescent Oncology and Haematology unit at Leeds General Infirmary, sent the bell to him.

It was with the family for three days following the Stephen Longfellow Academy pupil being given the all-clear on January 4.

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His mum, Siobhan Delaney, 35, organised a family get together in her mum's garden where they released helium star balloons and he also took the bell to school and rang it there watched by staff and pupils who are still attending at the moment.

Kaiden at home with mum Siobhan, brother Kian and sister Charlotte.Kaiden at home with mum Siobhan, brother Kian and sister Charlotte.
Kaiden at home with mum Siobhan, brother Kian and sister Charlotte.

She said: "We just needed something positive. Normally they would ring and have a party in the hospital and invite friends and family, but everything is off-limits."

The youngster is now looking forward to being able to get out and about, seeing friends - and growing his hair back which fell out during chemotherapy.

Kaiden, of Farnley, had been diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in March last year - it is a rare condition that affects around 26 children in the UK per year.

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He developed a tennis ball sized lump on his shoulder and thought he had either slept funny or pulled a muscle when he had tripped over his sister a few days earlier. His mum took him to A&E to get it checked when it didn't disappear after a few days. Following tests, X-rays and an MRI scan they were given the devastating news and Kaiden started high intensity chemotherapy at the beginning of April.

In a twist on the tradition, Kaiden gets to ring the cancer bell at school.In a twist on the tradition, Kaiden gets to ring the cancer bell at school.
In a twist on the tradition, Kaiden gets to ring the cancer bell at school.

Siobhan said: "We were there for ages and I thought 'this is three hours of a Friday for a pulled muscle'. Cancer was the very last thing on my list, I was in shock and didn't take it in."

In September he had to have further surgery to remove his shoulder blade, muscle and part of his shoulder and the tissues around it to ensure there were no cancerous cells left. It means he will never regain full use of his shoulder.

Kaiden had his last round of chemotherapy the week before Christmas and was given the all-clear on January 4.

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Siobhan added: "In March you can't wait to get to that point but it seems so far away. He is so resilient and used to say 'mum why are you crying?'. He has taken it all in his stride, he has done really well and better than most adults."

Kaiden Lumb, aged 10, who has been given the all-clear from a rare type of bone cancer.Kaiden Lumb, aged 10, who has been given the all-clear from a rare type of bone cancer.
Kaiden Lumb, aged 10, who has been given the all-clear from a rare type of bone cancer.

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