A brave Scots teen is determined to power through after receiving a devastating Leukaemia diagnosis and the news he may never walk again.
Aidan Hogg, 15, was rushed to A&E last Thursday, March 4, after pain in his lower back led to losing all feeling in his legs.
He and his family, from Mussleburgh in Midlothian, were then dealt the devastating blow with the news he has Leukaemia and cancerous tumours near Aidan’s spinal cord resulted in nerve damage.
This has tragically led to Aidan losing the ability to walk and he is currently using a wheelchair.
Mum Emma Davidson, 40, told the Record how the courage of her son has been inspiring.
She said: “He is being really, really brave, I am so proud of him and the way he is coping with this.
“I don’t think I would be able to cope as well with this news as he has.
“He says he is going to fight this and stays convinced that he will be able to walk again.”
Doctors at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh believe surgery would be too dangerous given the location of the cancer and so Aidan has started a chemotherapy course which will last for around six months.
The teen has also begun an intensive physiotherapy course to help his mobility.
Emma said: “At first he was upset because he couldn’t do the things he was being asked to try but yesterday I could see the determination on his face was unbelievable.”
Aidan has a large family support network behind him who Emma says will be by his side through the whole ordeal.
Aidan lives with mum Emma and step-dad Craig, older brother Ryan, 20, sister Nicole, 16, and brother Keegan, 10, as well as baby brother Robbie aged 23 months.
He also has the support of big sister Jamie, 23, and step sister Nicole, 14, and step brother Lewis, 10.
Aidan’s Dad Mark and his step-mum Lisa also have a large family with Aidan’s step brothers and sisters Calvin, 21, Shea, 8, Frankie, 7, and one-year-old half-sister Indie.
Emma said Aidan’s diagnosis was a shock to everyone in the family.
“It’s just been horrific,” she said. “It was a total shock.”
Aidan first went to doctors on March 1 with lower back pain and was given antibiotics for a possible kidney infection.
However after waking up in the early hours of March 4 it was clear something else was wrong.
Emma said: “He was taken to hospital on the Thursday and then he was in a wheelchair and by that night he had lost all feeling.
“You just never think that this will happen to your healthy child who plays rugby and goes running and walking.”
She added: “The care he has received has been great. They have had to tell us he may never walk again, they do not sugar coat it and I’m grateful for that. There’s no point giving us false hope.
“This hasn’t been easy but the NHS staff have made it easier.”
A friend of Emma’s Tracy Murphy set up a Go Fund Me page to support the family with Aidan’s recovery.
It’s unclear yet what kind of mobility equipment Aidan may need to him his rehabilitation and Emma says she is overwhelmed by the support the family have received.
She said: “It’s been amazing, I am just blown away by people’s kindness.
“We are all so grateful to the people who have donated.”
To support the Go Fund Me page click here.
