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B.C. boy battles rare cancer as community rallies

A parent香蕉视频直播檚 worst nightmare: Community support building for seven-year-old Okanagan cancer victim
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Seven-year-old Wills is suffering from a rare form of kidney cancer Submitted photo

It香蕉视频直播檚 a nightmare no child should ever have to suffer, but support is pouring in for a Penticton boy battling cancer.

Until recently, seven-year-old Wills Hodgkinson was a happy, athletic and active child, participating in soccer, hockey and swimming. Now he香蕉视频直播檚 in a hospital bed in Vancouver, preparing for an operation to remove a tumour attached to his kidney.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know if he understands the full thing in his head, but he香蕉视频直播檚 scared and he香蕉视频直播檚 resigned to the situation,香蕉视频直播 said his dad Tim Hodgkinson. Tim, along with Wills香蕉视频直播 mother Neely Brimer and two-year-old sister Scarlett, are staying in Vancouver to be at Wills香蕉视频直播 side.

香蕉视频直播淗e knows he香蕉视频直播檚 got to have the surgery, and we香蕉视频直播檝e got to move forward to make him better. He just wants to be home with his mates playing football (soccer). All our energies are supporting him.香蕉视频直播

It香蕉视频直播檚 a big mass and it香蕉视频直播檚 probably been in there since he was in the womb. Sitting there like a ticking time bomb.

Tim said that, according to doctors, the tumour has probably been growing since Wills was in the womb, but the symptoms came on quickly last month.

It started with a tummy ache and throwing up on a Saturday night.

香蕉视频直播淚 took him off school on Monday, and on the Monday night he was crying out in pain,香蕉视频直播 Tim said. Expecting just a childhood ailment, Hodgkinson took his son to the emergency ward at Penticton Regional Hospital.

香蕉视频直播淎n hour went by, and then another, and we香蕉视频直播檙e still there,香蕉视频直播 said Hodgkinson. 香蕉视频直播淭he doctor came back and said 香蕉视频直播楲ook, I香蕉视频直播檝e got to talk to you.香蕉视频直播

Wills has a Wilm香蕉视频直播檚 tumour, a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children. The usual treatment is to remove both the tumour and affected kidney, and the outlook for most children is good.

But when doctors at the , part of B.C. Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital, took Wills into surgery they found problems.

香蕉视频直播淲hen they got in there, they found the tumour had fused itself to his pancreas, his spleen and the top part of his colon,香蕉视频直播 said Tim. 香蕉视频直播淪o they sewed him back up again because it was too risky at that point.

Wills is going through six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments now, in hopes of shrinking the tumour enough that it peels itself away from the other organs.

When the medical team operates again, it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be very traumatic for the little boy香蕉视频直播檚 body.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 very frail at the moment. We are looking at is six weeks of chemo, which will crush his defences and then go in, take a kidney out, a tumour that the body thinks is another organ, because it香蕉视频直播檚 been in there so long and it香蕉视频直播檚 so big,香蕉视频直播 Tim said. Wills might also lose his pancreas and spleen, even then.

The nightmare doesn香蕉视频直播檛 end there. Doctors also discovered eight tumours on Wills香蕉视频直播 lungs. Tim said they won香蕉视频直播檛 be able to tell if those are treatable until the chemotherapy begins to take effect.

香蕉视频直播淭here are so many big questions at the moment. It香蕉视频直播檚 all just a blur, it香蕉视频直播檚 so overwhelming,香蕉视频直播 said Tim. 香蕉视频直播淒espite it all, you have to pull through. Wills is the most important thing here.香蕉视频直播

Wills香蕉视频直播 two-year-old sister Scarlett has proven to be a bright spot. Tim said their decision to keep the family together at Wills香蕉视频直播 side was a good one. Scarlett is too young to understand what is going on, so she is having a good time running around with the nurses and enjoying the hospital playrooms.

香蕉视频直播淓very morning she comes in to Wills and she was kissing his hand and asking 香蕉视频直播榓re you happy today Wills?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 said Tim. 香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 two, she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 understand the extent of it but she knows Wills is sick and she loves her brother very much.香蕉视频直播

Growing up with a British father, Wills is naturally a major football fan, and he香蕉视频直播檚 been visited by members of the Vancouver Whitecaps, along with their mascot Spike. He香蕉视频直播檚 also received a letter from Gary Cahill, captain of his favourite team, the Chelsea Football Club and also the current captain of the England team.

香蕉视频直播淭he whole team sent him a card too, with all their signatures,香蕉视频直播 said Tim, adding that Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit also sent Wills a video.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e completely overwhelmed by the generosity of people香蕉视频直播檚 thoughts and messages. It香蕉视频直播檚 truly humbling. Nobody ever wants to find themselves in this situation, but the support people are giving us is humbling,香蕉视频直播 said Tim

Back at home in the Okanagan, community support is pouring in for the family via a fundraiser organized by Margie Hibbard and Tricia Hernes.

There are now over 800 people in a set up on Facebook, Hibbard said.

Since announcing the fundraiser, Hibbard said they香蕉视频直播檝e learned there is another student at Wills香蕉视频直播 school, Holy Cross Elementary, that has cancer.

香蕉视频直播淲e are donating a portion of the bake sale to that student as well. Most of the bake sale is going to come from Holy Cross volunteers,香蕉视频直播 said Hibbard.

Besides the bake sale, the fundraiser on March 11 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Adidas Soccerplex will include a silent auction, bake sale, glitter tattoos, bouncy castle, soccer skills competition, and crafts for the kids. It香蕉视频直播檚 also a chance to send messages of love and encouragement to Wills, via a scrapbook, photos and videos provided by Moments Under Frame.

There is also a GoFundMe page set up at .

Hibbard said the outpouring of messages of support and items for the fundraiser has been amazing.

香蕉视频直播淚 think people can really empathize with the stress, the fear, the loss of control that is going on there. It香蕉视频直播檚 such a young child and he will have such a battle,香蕉视频直播 said Hibbard. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just a testament to how much people want to see good in the world.香蕉视频直播

Hibbard added they are still accepting silent auction items and bake sale goodies are needed. Anyone who is able to donate items can drop them off at Time Flies.

Organizers Hernes and Hibbard can be reached through the event page on or via email at triciahernes@gmail.com Margie_hibbard@hotmail.com.


Steve Kidd
Senior reporter,
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Wills prepares himself for school at Holy Cross Elementary. Submitted photo
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Wills plays soccer with the Penticton Pinnacles Excelsior program. Submitted photo.




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