My little one stubbed his toe – then we found out he had cancer

A mother says her “whole world was turned upside down” when her two-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer – after breaking his toe.

Zakariyah, known as Zak, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in May 2022 after his parents noticed that his toe injury was not healing.

Within weeks, Zak was on an intensive program of chemotherapy and steroid treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

The doses were gradually intensified over a three-month period and at one point Zak was receiving chemotherapy almost every day – causing his hair to fall out.

Now four years old, he has a lumbar puncture every six months, as well as chemotherapy once a month and several other drugs administered at home as part of his complicated treatment plan.

His mother Amina, 40, said: “When he was diagnosed, I felt disbelief and shock. Our whole world turned upside down.

“I felt overwhelmed and extremely anxious. Because first thing in the morning we were told he had cancer and that an ambulance was waiting outside. I felt numb. Everything was very rushed and happening fast. There was no way and no time to get them all.

“We were afraid of the unknown. Also, many times we were not given enough information and dealing with new doctors did not help us at all. We were very scared of what was happening and what was to come.

“He didn’t handle it very well because he was too young and didn’t understand what was going on.

“We had a lot of doctors examining him and as a result he was frightened by all the doctors and nurses, absolutely petrified. It took him a long time to get over that.

“He was too young to describe how he felt when he was treated and he just cried.”

Doctors at St George’s Hospital in Tooting have since praised Amina for following her motherly instincts as she kept pushing for him to be seen.

Mum says life with cancer is hard for Zak, with good days and bad days – when he feels sick, his jaw hurts and his legs hurt.

But cancer hasn’t dampened Zak’s vibrant personality. Amina said he is: “Playful and such a joy. You never see him upset about anything.

“Everyone loves Zak. He is a very active child who likes to ride bikes, swim and play soccer. He never sits still.

“Zach goes to school and absolutely loves it. He can just be himself, a normal active little boy, no one talks about his cancer. He can’t wait to get up in the morning and get into his uniform.

He has handled his cancer journey surprisingly well. He is a little warrior. From the moment he couldn’t talk or walk to riding a bike. He is an inspiration to us all. Even when he feels depressed or in pain, he goes on and laughs it off.â€

Zaka’s treatment ends in June 2025 and will be followed by regular check-ups for at least five years.

Once the family is given approval, they hope to go on their first holiday in three years with Zak’s older sister Kyra, six.

All four of them are now supporting Cancer Support UK’s campaign to provide warm lavender-scented teddy bears to other children in Zak’s position.

The charity aims to send 1,200 warm-feeling bears to children’s cancer wards across the UK to help provide a little comfort this Christmas.