A six-year-old boy who captured the heart of Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds when he was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer has now undergone a stem cell transplant.
Little Leland was found to have MDS cancer, which can develop into acute leukaemia, after developing a cough. His mum Sarah, 40, initially thought he might have had an infection and took him to his GP.
A test revealed Leland had a low white blood cell count. He was later given the devastating diagnosis and Sarah began campaigning for a stem cell match.
Leland's story caught the attention of actor Ryan Reynolds when Wrexham FC played Blyth Spartans. He made an appeal to try and find a donor and sent the youngster a moving message.
A donor was found for Leland, who lives in Gateshead, the following month. He had chemotherapy before undergoing a transplant at the Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle on Wednesday.
Sarah said: "No mother should have to hear the words that their child has cancer. It was heart-breaking. Apart from a cough, there was no clear sign there was anything wrong with Leland.
"We didn't have a family member that could donate to Leland so we had to search for an unknown donor. When I found out we had a donor it was like Christmas. It was the best news I have ever had.
"He had to have a week of strong, intensive chemotherapy and undergo a transplant three days later, it's quite gruelling. Especially when he's so little.
"He's took to it well. He has been a lot happier and chirpier today then he has been all week. It's lovely to see him engaging with the nurses and chatting to them.
"He keeps saying 'mummy I'm a superhero'. Now he's had his transplant he thinks he's now got superhero powers. He says 'I'm going to be so fast like all the footballers'."
Sarah said Leland developed a cough just before Christmas in 2021. She took him to see his GP when it didn't disappear as she feared it could have been coronavirus or a respiratory infection.
She said he had a negative test for covid-19 and she was told it wasn't a chest infection. Concerns about his low white blood cell count led to a number of tests.
Around five months later, in September last year, Sarah was devastated to learn that Leland had a rare type of cancer called MDS.
As Leland required a transplant from an unknown donor, she created the campaign 'Leland's Fight'. It aimed to raise awareness of the need for donations through charities such as Anthony Nolan.
Leland was asked to be a mascot for Blyth Spartans during their match against Wrexham FC, which is part-owned owned by Ryan Reynolds, in October last year. His story caught the attention of the Deadpool star and he tried to help
Sarah said: "Leland says 'He's my hero' and 'I'm going to be a superhero like Ryan Reynolds'. Ryan Reynolds has kept in touch ever since. He sends us private messages wishing him good luck to try and raise his spirits.
"He's brought not only light to the subject - the need for donations - but he's made it worldwide. Donations don't just come from the UK, they come from abroad too."
In November last year, Sarah was told that a donor had been found for Leland. She had to keep her son safe over Christmas and New Year so he could undergo chemotherapy and the transplant in January.
She believes that had it not been for medical advances Leland's cancer wouldn't have been found until he had developed leukaemia. She said: "Luckily we have caught it early.
"I wasn't fully aware of how much goes into giving these children a second chance at life. Until it happens to you don't know the impact and consequences of these children having to go through these transplants.
"The chemo was very, very rough because they were destroying all of his immune system and preparing his body to accept more cells. Leland was in a lot of pain but he still had a smile on his face."
Sarah would like to thank those who have supported Leland during his journey and signed up to become a donor.
She said: "Leland loves football and he should be out playing football with his Gateshead team and going to Newcastle games - he absolutely adores Newcastle United. Wor Flags has offered to donate flags to the ward for Leland.
"I'm really grateful to the staff at the RVI, the Bubble Foundation, Anthony Nolan and the Newcastle United Foundation.
"I just want to say a massive thank you, I'm grateful and humbled that people don't know Leland but they're signing up.
"They might not be the donor for Leland but what they are going to offer for another child in Leland's situation is amazing."
To join the stem cell register complete a online form on the Anthony Nolan website and request a swab pack to complete and post back.
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