Wallasey three-year-old Bailey is celebrating his first Christmas in remission

A three-year old boy from Wallasey is getting ready to celebrate his first Christmas in remission from cancer.

Bailey Kilbane has just finished more than two years of treatment after being diagnosed with b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

After ringing the bell last month, mum Bethani says the family is now looking forward to a fantastic Christmas knowing that Bailey has beaten his horrible illness.

She says: “I’m so excited.

“He has spent the last two Christmases in hospital so we can’t wait to all celebrate this Christmas at home together.”

Bethani, 25, adds: “Bailey has asked Father Christmas for a bike and an ice-cream van.

Bailey Kilbane Christmas 2022 going through treatment.

“And while he’ll think those are the best presents ever, mine is knowing that my little boy is well again. Nothing can get better than that for me.”

Everything seemed fine until he was nine months old when Bethani, a former dog handler in a doggie hotel, noticed that Bailey didn’t seem himself. He was bruising easily and was unusually pale and lethargic.

She and partner Brandon, 25, became even more concerned when he started to experience night sweats and had a high temperature.

Bethani says: “It was initially thought that he had a viral infection, but further blood tests revealed suspected leukaemia. Bailey was immediately transferred to Alder Hey where he had a bone marrow aspiration and lumbar puncture, and he was diagnosed with b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

“I wasn’t sure what it was at first or what it meant.

“You never think these things are going to happen to you.”

Bethani and Brandon soon learned that B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) is a fast-growing type of blood cancer that occurs when the bone marrow produces too many abnormal white blood cells called B-lymphoblasts.

Because of the aggressive nature of leukaemia, Bailey’s medical team at Alder Hey quickly started chemotherapy.

Dr Kat Lindsay, Bailey’s Haematology Consultant, explains: “Bailey’s leukaemia chemotherapy involved three stages. The first aims to destroy the cancer cells and put it in remission, the second phase aims to destroy any remaining cancer cells, and the third phase aims to reduce the chances of the cancer returning.”

Bailey’s treatment spanned more than two years, starting with intravenous therapy and injections during the first two phases, followed by oral medication at home in the final phase.

The treatment was challenging and often left Bailey physically unwell. Bethani, who now has a 10-week-old daughter Brooke too, says: “You wonder if you’re ever going to get through it.

“The worse time was when Bailey’s treatment was intensified, and he was really poorly. That was when we wondered if we would ever celebrate another birthday or Christmas with him. It was hard.

“Last Christmas he had tests at Alder Hey on Christmas Eve before we were sent home. But then they called us on Christmas Day to say he needed to go back in, so we spent Christmas in hospital again.

“Bailey opened all his presents there.

“It will be lovely to be able to celebrate at home this year and we are so grateful. We met so many other families during his treatment at Alder Hey and some of those no longer have their little ones. We know we are so lucky.”

Bailey Kilbane last Christmas at Alder Hey

Bailey received the incredible news that he was in remission on October 27, and on November 5 he proudly rang the end-of-treatment bell.

To celebrate, Bailey’s family threw a huge party with friends and loved ones, marking not only his remission but also his third birthday (and all the ones before which he’d missed because he’d been so unwell).

Even his nursery, Little Lodge Daycare, joined in the celebrations, holding a teddy bears’ picnic and bell ringing of their own.

Bethani smiles: “When were told Bailey had leukaemia we couldn’t believe it. It was a huge shock and our life was put on hold, but the staff on 3B have all been amazing. They have watched Bailey grow from a baby to the little boy he is now. They adore him, which made us easier to trust in them and the process.

“It’s been a long road to get here but Bailey is the happiest little boy, and you wouldn’t think he’s been through so much. We’re forever grateful to Alder Hey for where we are now.

“It means that this Christmas is extra special. We have got the decorations up and lights outside – and Bailey has even got his own Christmas tree up in his bedroom!

“It’s special because it’s the first Christmas Bailey has been aware of everything and, of course, because he is in remission.

“We’re looking forward to spending Christmas Day at home with close family, watching Bailey open his presents, and playing games.

“It feels like the first Christmas we can properly enjoy as a family. After fears at times that we’d never have another Christmas with Bailey again it means so much… and it’s amazing that, thanks to Alder Hey, this will be the first of lots of lovely Christmases we’ll be able to celebrate together.”