Hoddlesden cancer patient Sam, 4, goes home from hospital for birthday bash (From Blackburn Citizen)

Hoddlesden cancer patient Sam, 4, goes home from hospital for birthday bash

9:11am Monday 11th March 2013 in News

THE family of a boy who needs £250,000 life-saving therapy after being diagnosed with a rare cancer threw him a belated birthday bash after he turned four in hospital.

Hoddlesden youngster Sam Shaw had to spend his birthday recovering from chemotherapy at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

But mum Christine said she was able to bring him home for a party with close friends and family on Saturday.

The 35-year-old, of Glencoe Avenue, said it was a fantastic occasion.

She said: “Sam wanted balloons, music and his friends so that’s what we gave him.

“He got loads of presents and cards and people ringing him up to wish him well.

“He absolutely loved it.”

Mrs Shaw, who is married to Carl, 41, said it had been nice to return to the ‘real world’.

She said: “Tuesday was not how we planned to have his fourth birthday.

“He had just started chemo so was in the thick of it. It has been lovely to see him.

“We have got our energetic little boy back for the weekend.”

Sam was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in January, the same type of cancer which Lower Darwen girl Madison Allan also suffered from.

Mrs Shaw said she had been overwhelmed by all the support received since their fundraising campaign began.

She said: “It has been a crazy week since we started the appeal.

“When we found out how much we needed to raise it seemed like ‘mission impossible’.

“But with everyone asking if they can do things to help, anything is possible.

“It means an awful lot to the whole family.”

Yesterday, more than £7,000 had been raised for the Sam Shaw Appeal.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/ samshawappeal