‘My son's cancer diagnosis changed our world overnight - but this Leeds team are our lifeline'

When four-year-old Jenson was diagnosed with leukaemia, his family’s world changed overnight.

But amid the frightening tests and intensive treatment, a team of specialist play workers has helped bring some comfort and normality to his life.

His story comes as Leeds Hospitals Charity marks Play in Healthcare Week by highlighting the importance of its Play Appeal to help secure seven-day-a-week specialist play support for children at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

As Play in Healthcare Week gets underway, the Yorkshire Evening Post is backing a new campaign to protect the hospital’s vital seven-day-a-week service for children.

And we’re looking to raise £40,000, which is enough to fund a year of sessions delivered by a Play Specialist to support children across the city.

Jenson, of Bradford, was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia in February after his family initially thought he had a virus. Following urgent tests at their local hospital, he was transferred to Leeds for specialist treatment.

His mum, Georgia Robertshaw, remembers arriving in Leeds at midnight, terrified about what lay ahead.

The 29-year-old told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “It just felt like a total nightmare, not knowing what the future would hold for Jenson.”

Within days, Jenson had undergone surgery to have a Hickman line fitted and a bone marrow biopsy. For Georgia, the sudden shift from everyday family life to navigating medical appointments, unfamiliar terminology and intensive treatment was overwhelming.

“My life went from living a normal day-to-day life to becoming a medical mum overnight,” she said.

The hospital’s specialist Play Team quickly became a source of support, introducing Jenson to a toy duck complete with a bandana and Hickman line to help him understand the equipment he would need.

Although Jenson was initially frightened, mum Georgia said the explanations helped him settle once his own line was fitted.

As treatment progressed, specialists used a body map to show him how chemotherapy was helping his body fight the disease when Jenson struggled to understand why he could not see his friends.

Georgia said it was a particularly memorable moment, giving her son a way to understand something that would otherwise have been difficult to explain to a child his age.

The support has been especially important during hospital stays, when Jenson felt isolated from his usual routine and struggled with the effects of treatment.

She added: “Just seeing the Play Team staff around and having a chat and seeing familiar faces on the ward and clinic makes it feel more home-to-home and less daunting for us.”

Jenson is now in remission, with negative bone marrow tests, and has started Reception at school, attending whenever he feels well enough. He still faces two years of chemotherapy, but Georgia hopes he can continue enjoying childhood while completing his treatment.

His experience reflects the role the Play Team provides for thousands of young patients. More than 11,000 children were admitted to Leeds Children’s Hospital last year, with the team delivering an average of 338 therapeutic play sessions every week to help children understand procedures, manage anxiety and feel more comfortable during treatment.

Only around a third of UK hospitals provide specialist play support seven days a week.

With support from Leeds Hospitals Charity, the service has expanded to cover every day, and the charity is now asking individuals and businesses to become regular donors to help secure its future.

For Georgia, the difference that support makes is clear: it helps her son feel less like a patient and more like a child.

Georgia told us: “We’re remaining positive for the rest of Jenson’s treatment and hoping that the leukaemia stays away

“And for Jenson to continue living a life that a young child should do.”