A four-year-old boy from Harrow has received a prestigious award in recognition of the courage he has shown while battling against an extremely rare form of cancer.
Junior was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancer which affects the retina of children predominantly under six-years-old, in September 2023 when he was still only three-years-old.
Initial tests at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London revealed that Junior had a large tumour in his left eye. The extent of the cancer meant doctors at The Royal London Hospital then had to remove the eye in order to save his life.
In time, Junior – who subsequently underwent four months of chemotherapy and continues to have his condition monitored regularly by doctors – will wear an artificial eye which, all being well, he’ll be able to take out and clean all by himself. His right eye, fortunately, remains healthy.
Despite everything he has been through, Junior has retained his sense of humour and love of life. As his mum, Courtney Banfield, says: “He still loves the outdoors, playing in mud, going to theme parks and running around. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he has become very attached to us, but slowly he is starting to regain his independence again.”
In recognition of his outstanding efforts and bravery, Junior has been named a CHECT Champion by the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT).
The CHECT Champion awards aim to recognise the courage, resilience and patience shown by all children affected by retinoblastoma (often referred to as Rb for short) throughout treatment and beyond.
“It was around the start of 2023 when we first noticed that something was wrong with Junior,” adds Courtney. “There was the slightest of glows in his left eye and he’d actually started telling us that he couldn’t see properly. He’d also suffered a couple of falls.
“One of the things about retinoblastoma is the lack of knowledge out there about it. We’d tried taking him to our GP and booked him in for an appointment at the opticians. They thought it could be cataracts, and referred him to Moorfields Hospital which took another two months. It was only then that they realised how serious his condition was. From there he was referred again, this time to The Royal London Hospital, and within a week he’d had his eye removed.
“He’s been through so much over the past few months. As parents, we’re immensely proud of him and want to celebrate how special he is, while also raising awareness into retinoblastoma.”
Junior has already received his CHECT Champion medal and a framed certificate in recognition of his immense courage in the face of adversity.
CHECT has three vital missions – to offer one-to-one support for families and individuals affected by retinoblastoma, to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms to prompt earlier diagnosis, and to help fund research into the disease.
“So often, children affected by retinoblastoma face huge disruption, upset and distressing treatment not to mention follow-on check-ups,” says Richard Ashton, Chief Executive of the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust.
“We are delighted to recognise the wonderful courage and resilience shown by Junior throughout his treatment and beyond. He really is a thoroughly deserving champion.
“While retinoblastoma is a rare cancer, we urge all parents to be aware of the symptoms and to have their child checked out if they have any concerns at all. The most common signs are a white glow in the eye which is visible in certain lighting or a flash photo, or a squint (lazy eye).”
We want to say a huge thank you to Junior and Courtney for working with CHECT on some great national press – from ITV to BBC! Remember, our support team are here at help – contact CHECT at support@chect.org.uk or 020 7377 5578.