Four-year-old recovers from coronavirus he got during treatment for cancer

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A four-year-old boy has recovered from coronavirus which he got while being treated for cancer. 

Archie Wilks, who has neuroblastoma with two tumours, has recovered from coronavirus. 

At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic Archie’s parents, Simon and Harriet, tried to make sure Archie was not exposed to the virus. 

They look Archie’s twin brother, Henry, out of school and isolated in their family home in Saffron Walden, Essex, where only a community nurse visited them twice.  

‘We had some trips to the day unit where we kept away from whoever we possibly could and stayed outside to keep away from the waiting room,’ said Simon. 

But Archie became the first child cancer patient to get coronavirus at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. 

‘Typical of Archie,’ said Simon. 

Archie Wilks, four-years-old, has recovered from coronavirus after he got it during treatment for rare cancer neuroblastoma

Archie had a fever after starting a chemotherapy and immunotherapy course and was quickly moved to a coronavirus ward where he tested positive two days later

Archie had a fever after starting a chemotherapy and immunotherapy course and was quickly moved to a coronavirus ward where he tested positive two days later

Archie was quickly moved to a coronavirus ward, where he was diagnosed with the virus two days later, after he had a fever after starting a chemotherapy and immunotherapy course. 

Archie and his father isolated for five days in a hospital room that doctors and nurses wore protective gear into. 

‘It was scary to be moved into the coronavirus ward as we had no real information about how a child in his position might cope with the virus, said Simon. 

Simon said hospital staff really helped him to feel at ease in such a worrying situation. 

Archie and his father isolated for five days in a hospital room that doctors and nurses wore protective gear into

Archie and his father isolated for five days in a hospital room that doctors and nurses wore protective gear into

Archie and his father returned to the rest of their family, who have all had coronavirus symptoms, on April 1. 'I know Harriet found it hard at home with Henry. We've been in a similar position countless times in the last year but obviously the other was able to leave the house or interact with others to take our mind off the situation but the isolation at home made it harder,' Simon said

 Archie and his father returned to the rest of their family, who have all had coronavirus symptoms, on April 1. ‘I know Harriet found it hard at home with Henry. We’ve been in a similar position countless times in the last year but obviously the other was able to leave the house or interact with others to take our mind off the situation but the isolation at home made it harder,’ Simon said

Archie and his father returned to the rest of their family, who have all had coronavirus symptoms, on April 1.  

‘I know Harriet found it hard at home with Henry. We’ve been in a similar position countless times in the last year but obviously the other was able to leave the house or interact with others to take our mind off the situation but the isolation at home made it harder,’ Simon said.

 Archie was tired and still needed oxygen overnight for a few days but on Thursday his family told supporters on the Archie’s Journey Facebook page: ‘Archie’s definitely out the other side of the virus with no cough and no need for oxygen.’ 

'It's reassuring for other parents to see that a vulnerable child like Archie has coped well so far with the virus but we obviously don't want anyone thinking it's a good idea to not worry about their children contracting it,' said Simon.

‘It’s reassuring for other parents to see that a vulnerable child like Archie has coped well so far with the virus but we obviously don’t want anyone thinking it’s a good idea to not worry about their children contracting it,’ said Simon. 

Simon and Harriet are raising money for Archie to to be able to participate in a vaccine trial at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York that could decrease the chances of the cancer returning once Archie is in remission

Simon and Harriet are raising money for Archie to to be able to participate in a vaccine trial at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York that could decrease the chances of the cancer returning once Archie is in remission

WHAT IS NEUROBLASTOMA?

Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer that affects children and usually starts in the abdomen. 

Around 100 children, who are typically under five, are diagnosed every year in the UK.

The disease affects approximately 800 new children annually in the US.  

In around half of cases, neuroblastoma spreads to other parts of the body, particularly the liver and skin.

Neuroblastoma’s cause is unclear. There may be a family-history link.

The main symptom is usually a lump in the abdomen, which may cause swelling, discomfort or pain.

If the disease affects the spinal cord, it can lead to numbness, weakness and loss of movement in the lower part of the body.

Treatment depends on how advanced the cancer is and the risk it will return after therapy.

Surgery, and chemo and radiotherapy, are commonly used.

Source: Cancer Research UK 

Simon said:  ‘Luckily because we had been so cautious, isolating early and completely, we wouldn’t have come into contact with many people during any potential stage of him having the virus, which was helpful to mentally deal with the positive result, knowing we wouldn’t have caused any potential harm to anyone else.

‘It’s reassuring for other parents to see that a vulnerable child like Archie has coped well so far with the virus but we obviously don’t want anyone thinking it’s a good idea to not worry about their children contracting it.’ 

Simon and Harriet are raising money for Archie to to be able to participate in a vaccine trial at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York that could decrease the chances of the cancer returning once Archie is in remission. 

According to CureSearch for Children’s Cancer 50 to  60 per cent of children successfully treated for neuroblastoma will relapse. 

The trial will ‘will look to reduce the chance of that happening and allow us all to know we have done everything possible to give Archie the best chance at life’, Simon said. 

Archie’s dad, 31, and Archie’s mum, 30, have raised more than £180,000 and they need £230,000.