RUN THE LONDON LANDMARKS HALF MARATHON
In March 2019, George was diagnosed with a very rare cancer called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH). The team at King’s explained to his parents Catherine and Sam that the disease was in his bone, liver and spleen. At the age of just two and a half, George underwent a year of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, less than a week after being given the all-clear, the disease returned. “We were told that George would require further, more aggressive chemotherapy and possibly up to five more rounds of treatment before anything else could be done”, says Catherine.
After just one dose of the second round, at the age of just three and a half, George’s hair fell out for the second time in his life.
Determined to explore every available avenue, the Bakers found a doctor in America who treated LCH patients differently. “We flew out to Cincinnati to meet with him and he took George off chemo and started him on an inhibitor to control the LCH. Since then, George has taken a daily pill (which he may require for life) but it appears to have no side effects and should have allowed George to lead a normal life.”
However, shortly after the family returned to England, George’s liver, which had been very badly damaged by the LCH, began to deteriorate even further. Over the next eighteen months, he developed portal hypertension, his abdomen became severely distended, and he became increasingly jaundiced.
In December 2021, Catherine and Sam were told that George would need a liver transplant.
In early February 2022, George and his parents went to King’s for a pre-transplant assessment. After extensive testing, Catherine was approved to be George’s liver donor. From there, even though George’s health continued to worsen, everything seemed to change for the better.
During their assessment, the Bakers had the opportunity to meet Professor Nigel Heaton, the lead liver surgeon at King’s who has been performing paediatric liver transplants for over thirty years.
In the weeks leading up to the transplant, George was barely able to walk up the stairs. He would nap several times a day and, when he arrived at King’s the day before the surgery, he was a yellow/green colour. “He was in the end stages of liver failure”, says Catherine.
Thanks to the incredible team at King’s, the transplant was a success. Within twenty-four hours George was out of the PICU and breathing on his own. His improvement was almost unbelievable – within ten days he was trying to kick a football down the corridors and was able to walk up and down the stairs within the hospital.
Thankfully, Catherine and George have recovered well and George in particular has gone from strength to strength. He’s back at school and enjoys playing football, tennis and golf. “He is happiest when playing any sport! He is full of life and seems to want to make up for the three and a half years when he was too sick to play and do ‘normal’ activities that most children can", says Catherine.
“This is why we have chosen to fundraise for King’s College Hospital Charity, it is our way of saying thank you. The whole family took part in the Great Hospital Hike in September 2022 – George ran across the finish line! – and in 2023 I plan to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon. Running keeps me physically and mentally strong and I was keen to get back to it after the operation. The race seemed like a fun and rewarding opportunity to make a difference to King’s.
Catherine will join a team of 100 London Landmark runners next April, all of whom are raising vital funds to help us make the best care possible. With your support we can help children just like George who need expert care and treatment. Why not join her? Places are still available to join #TeamKings at the London Landmarks Half Marathon. Register your interest today!