Newcastle United Fans
Benny Bahmanizad, a young boy from High Shincliffe, County Durham, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma at the tender age of two. His parents, Nicola and Daniel, were devastated by the news, having rushed him to the hospital after noticing he was limping and struggling to put weight on his left leg. Despite undergoing two years of intensive treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, Benny’s cancer returned in September this year.
Nicola said: “There’s not a standard procedure for relapse neuroblastoma. It’s much more difficult to know which route to go down which is why we’re looking at CAR T-cell therapy in Rome. We heard about it through research and we discussed it with our consultant at the hospital.”
Nicola added: “The odds of survival are between five and 10 per cent so we will try anything that would boost these chances. The initial results are somewhere between a 30% and 70% success rate. It doesn’t seem like there is any other option for us.”
Benny’s parents are now focused on raising £393,000 for CAR T-cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy available in Rome. With the help of Solving Kids Cancer UK, they have already raised over £27,000 through a Just Giving page. The family is determined to pursue this treatment, which offers a higher success rate than other options currently available.
Benny’s journey with neuroblastoma has been a challenging one. After his initial diagnosis, tests revealed a large tumor in his abdomen, and the disease had already spread. Despite the grim prognosis, Benny underwent a stem cell transplant, 12 rounds of chemotherapy, 20 sessions of radiotherapy, and six months of immunotherapy, eventually achieving remission.
However, a routine scan in September showed the cancer had returned. This news was a significant blow to the family, who had been hopeful that Benny’s health issues were due to an infection or inflammation. The return of the cancer has taken a toll on Benny, who now requires hearing aids due to chemotherapy-induced hearing loss.
Benny, a big Newcastle United fan, recently received a morale boost when Toon player William Osula visited him in the hospital, gifting him a signed Newcastle shirt. Despite the challenges, Benny’s parents remain hopeful and grateful for the overwhelming support they have received from the community.
The family continues to seek support to fund Benny’s treatment in Rome, hoping to improve his chances of survival and give him the best possible care.
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