A BRIEF HISTORY OF NATHANIEL NABENA’S JOURNEY FROM AFRICA TO LONDON

Nathaniel was a bright young boy growing up in Nigeria. He was doing well at school. We never dreamed that we would one day visit the UK with him for a health problem or that a new diagnosis would arise whilst we were there. Here is how our lives were changed for ever.

April 2018:We noticed a swelling in his eye and visited over 10 eye clinics. We were finally given steroids which was taken for 6 weeks. The swelling was eventually resolved. We thought all was well.

June 2018: Nathaniel had surgery to remove enlarged adenoids and Tonsils(Adeniodsectomy)

July 2018: We noticed another swelling and returned to the clinic and were given the same steroid and it resolved again 

January 2019: The same bulge was noticed a third time. We contacted the Eye clinic who referred us to see an Ocular plastic Surgeon.

February 2019: Nathaniel had surgery on the eye for debulking and tissue was sent to the lab for a histology testing and report

April 2019:Results came from two different labs and we got two different results. Immunohistochemistrywas Advised. The diagnosis was Myeloid Sarcoma / Chloroma. Chemotherapy was started immediately. Drugs used:Cytarabine Danorubine Etopside 

May 2019: Nathaniel was discharged

June2019: A new swelling occurred

July2019: Nathaniel was admitted into a Children Hospital 

July 2019: Bone marrow Aspiration was done. Fluid from the spine was taken to check for blasts. A blood film was done as well, and all the results were negative

July 2019: Chemo was started again: Drugs used: Doxorubucine, Cytarabine, and Etoposide

September 2019: Nathaniel was discharged as the bulge/swelling was resolved

December 2019: We noticed the bulge/ swelling had reoccurred

January 2020:Nathaniel was referred to a Radiation center.Simulation was done and we were advised that Radiation will be of no benefit and were referred to Pediatric Oncology.

January 2020: A bone marrow Biopsy was done again we were told his medical problems were not related to his bone marrow or blood.

February 2020: Nathaniel was admitted to hospital and chemotherapy was started again. Drugs used: Cytarabine, Doxorobucine, and Etorpside

March 2020: Nathaniel was discharged from hospital

May 2020: The bulge/ swelling reoccurred

July 2020: Nathaniel wasadmitted to hospital again and another round of chemotherapy was started. Drugs Used: Danourubucine and Cyterabine for just the induction phase

August 2020: Nathaniel is back in hospital for continued treatment.

Sept 2020: Nathaniel had a surgery to remove the left eye and the contents of the orbit as the tumour was growing without control

Oct 2020: Nathaniel was discharged and a biospy was done on the tissue removed from his orbit,result came out as Rhabdomyosarcoma  which was rather confusing considering the previous results we have had.

Nov 2020: We wanted to give Nathaniel a prosthetic eye so he could get rid of his eye patch. We came to Uk for an appointment with the Moorfield eye hospital in preparation to this.

But to our shock and horror whilst visiting the UK for this appointment, Nathaniel became very sick and was rushed to hospital where they discovered he had developed Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a type of blood cancer in which the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (a type of white blood cell), red blood cells, or platelets. His eye was no longer the priority as Nathaniel was now fighting for his life, at one stage being found to have a platelet count of just 2.

Read the Rest of Nathaniel Nabena’s story or visit the GoFundMe pages: Euros or Pounds

Nathaniel’s Angels Facebook Group

Blood Cancer UK on AML in Childhood – only 100 children are diagnosed a year in the UK

https://bloodcanceruncensored.com/the-mirror-campaigns-to-save-9-year-old-blood-cancer-patient-ten-days-to-save-his-life

https://bloodcanceruncensored.com/initial-chemotherapy-diary-for-9-year-old-aml-patient-treated-at-gosh-thanks-to-donations/

Nathaniel’s health story and trip to the UK where he got diagnosed with AML