A Newcastle United fan who was battling a uncommon type of bone most cancers died earlier than he obtained the possibility to marry his fiancée.
Kai Heslop was recognized with osteosarcoma in 2021 after affected by ache in his leg. The 22-year-old, from South Shields, South Tyneside, had his left leg amputated and underwent chemotherapy. Common scans later confirmed that he was most cancers free.
Nonetheless final 12 months, the illness returned and unfold to his lungs. Final month, medics on the Freeman Hospital gave him the devastating information that there was nothing extra they might do to avoid wasting his life.
Kai and his fiancé Nicole Hughes, 21, deliberate to get married within the hospital in Newcastle and maintain a blessing at St James’ Park. Nonetheless he sadly handed away in Nicole’s arms throughout the early hours of Saturday, earlier than they might say their vows.
Kai’s uncle Steven Lomas, 38, stated: “He was wonderful. I am unable to think about at that age being advised what he was advised and having to undergo what he went by. He by no means complained, he was by no means like why me? He simply took it in his stride. Sure he was unhappy at instances however he simply obtained on with it. He was so robust and decided. His sense of humour was ridiculously good.
“He was a carefree, happy-go-lucky child, like all of us are. From being six or seven years outdated, he was a Newcastle supporter. He knew every little thing in regards to the gamers and the workforce. He would go to the matches on a regular basis together with his pals, his little brother after which his girlfriend.
“Even when the physician advised him he had most cancers the very first thing he stated was ‘Properly so long as it does not interrupt any of the matches I’ll’. You may slice him in half and he can be black and white by and thru!
“He simply cherished the soccer, he cherished being across the household and he cherished being together with his girlfriend. He was proud of the life that he had arrange.”
Kai, who’s an older brother to Nicole, 21, Mason, 11, and Rhys, 10, obtained collectively together with his companion Nicole simply earlier than he was recognized with most cancers in 2021. When he first started affected by ache in his leg, it was initially put all the way down to being a sports activities harm.
Nonetheless the ache turned an excessive amount of and he ended up visiting South Tyneside District Hospital in South Shields. He had an x-ray and a scan earlier than being given an pressing appointment on the Freeman Hospital.
Steven, who lives in South Shields, stated: “He was taking part in round with considered one of his brothers and he stated he felt one thing in his knee jerk. He thought nothing of it, he thought he’d over stretched his leg. He felt the identical impact when he was taking part in soccer within the again backyard together with his girlfriend, he felt his knee stretch a little bit bit.
“For various weeks he was complaining of leg ache and there was (covid) lockdowns at the moment. He was chatting with a GP on the telephone as they weren’t providing face-to-face appointments. He had a zoom name they usually had been going to refer him for physiotherapy.
“The ache obtained an excessive amount of and he ended up going to South Tyneside Hospital. The nurses from there just about knew immediately what it was. They despatched him for an examination they usually advised him to come back again the following day together with his mam. As quickly as she stated that I knew what was coming.”
Steven stated he went with Kai to the oncologist appointment the place he was advised that he had osteosarcoma and would wish his leg amputated. Kai went on to endure rounds of chemotherapy and he had his leg eliminated on his twentieth birthday.
He stated that for round a 12 months Kai was having common scans they usually had been coming again clear. Nonetheless throughout the early months of 2023, a scan revealed that he had most cancers in each lungs.
Steven stated: “He obtained recognized with lung most cancers in April of final 12 months. They stated ‘It isn’t lung most cancers on it is personal’. It was lung most cancers that had unfold from the bone most cancers and went to his lungs.”
He stated medics operated on considered one of Kai’s lungs to take away the most cancers and deliberate to function, or use chemotherapy, on the opposite lung. Nonetheless Kai saved getting infections and the most cancers unfold.
In March this 12 months, Kai was advised by the oncologist that the most cancers had grown so quickly and it was now within the chest wall. They stated that there was no extra remedy they might supply him.
Steven requested for a second opinion from the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, who concentrate on most cancers remedy, they usually agreed with verdict of the Freeman Hospital. He additionally checked out the potential of Kai present process personal immunotherapy remedy.
He stated: “Kai was scared, then was upset however we stated ‘We’ll take a look at totally different choices’. There was instances when you might see that he was scared and down. It was solely within the final couple of weeks that he obtained that little bit of combat again once more.
“I discovered a personal clinic that provided Immunotherapy throughout Europe. We had been trying into that proper till the very finish.”
Simply over per week in the past, Kai went into the Freeman Hospital for a blood check and to get a dressing on his chest modified. Whereas he was there, a surgeon turned involved in regards to the lump on the facet of his chest. He was despatched for a scan and was saved within the hospital.
Steven stated: “It confirmed the tumour was simply huge. It was rising out of the chest wall by his ribs and you might see it. It was an enormous lump on his facet. He did not need to be in hospital however he was fairly snug as a result of they’d his ache managed fairly nicely.”
Kai and Nicole determined, whereas Kai was in hospital, that they wish to get married. The Teenage Most cancers Belief was serving to them to rearrange a marriage on the hospital and a blessing at St James’ Park.
Steven stated: “That they had simply obtained the rings. The Teenage Most cancers Belief nurses had been going to assist Nicole to get the wedding certificates from Newcastle Metropolis Council. That was going to occur on Saturday morning however clearly it by no means occurred.”
Kai’s well being started to deteriorate on Friday and he was visited by Steven, his dad Benjamin, his grandmother Karen and his sister Nicole. Kai’s mum Danielle Lomas, 43, and his companion Nicole had been with him when he handed away at 1.45am on Saturday morning.
Steven stated: “Kai did not need to know when he was going to die, he did not need to know something like that. He stated we did not need to scare him however we had been all there visiting him. He was fairly weak however he was nonetheless having a little bit of a stick with it.”
He stated they left round 8pm and Kai fell asleep. He was cuddling Nicole when he handed away throughout the early hours. He stated: “We went as much as the hospital and we had been there by about half two. We spent about 4 or 5 hours within the room with him.”
Steven has praised Nicole, who shared a flat with Kai, for the way in which she supported his nephew. He stated: “Truthfully for what she’s finished, for him and the household, she ought to be knighted.
“That relationship was just about cemented as quickly as they obtained collectively. They had been inseparable. They had been by no means, ever aside. She was with him at hospital visits and in each state of affairs she was there. Proper up till the top.
“He died in her arms, within the hospital, and I believe that is the place he would have needed it. So she’s such an absolute angel.
“She was so in tune with him, she knew what he needed earlier than he knew it. Each single second of the day she was with him, caring for him and being with him. I do not assume you come throughout that fairly often.”
Newcastle followers have been calling for a twenty second minute applause in Kai’s reminiscence on the subsequent dwelling recreation in opposition to Sheffield United on April 27.
Steven stated: “I simply need to say thanks to all people. I do know that does not appear sufficient however that is all I may give – an enormous thanks. The group as a complete, and on social media, has been so supportive. The response has been so touching, so heart-warming. It actually does assist.”
The Bone Most cancers Analysis Belief is the main UK charity devoted to combating main bone most cancers. If you need extra details about the various kinds of main bone most cancers and tumour, go to their web site: www.bcrt.org.uk/data. You can too entry their free Assist & Info Service on 0800 111 4855 or by emailing assist@bcrt.org.uk.
