Messages of support have flooded in for a Liverpool FC fan after his son died just days after his sixth birthday.
Matthew Gaut’s son Harry endured three years of treatment for leukaemia but died just eight days after celebrating his birthday. The schoolboy was first diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) in May 2013, but this had morphed into a more aggressive form of cancer known as AML (acute myeloid leukaemia) by 2016.
A relapse in 2016 resulted in a stem cell transplant, which was Harry's only chance of a cure. Although a match was found for Harry, he sadly developed severe symptoms of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). This typically occurs when white blood cells received from the donor attack one’s own body cells.
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Matthew said: “Because his initial diagnosis was ALL, at the time, it was about a 95% survival rate. I wasn’t too concerned and thought he’d be OK. He was near the end of his treatment, three years in, and then his blood counts dropped.
"That’s when you know it has come back or it is something worse. Sadly, it was something much worse and then it went downhill. We lost Harry eight days after his sixth birthday. Following on from that, you search for something to cling onto and that’s normally something charitable.”
Harry died on September 21, 2016 and, following his tragic death, Matthew has thrown himself into charity work. The dad will now be running from London to Paris in memory of Harry. Since the ECHO published Matthew's story, dozens of messages have been sent supporting him.
Writing on the ECHO's Facebook page, Doreen Hargreaves said: "Well done lads bless all of you." Irene Evans added: "Well done, not only for raising funds but also awareness. YNWA."
Mike Dunstan also said: "Well done absolutely amazing, also a little bit sad and you did the little man very proud of doing something totally amazing. Looking down on you, well done."
Messages of condolences have all been sent, Susan Welch Doyle said: "Rest in peace beautiful boy." Barbara Morrow added: "Very sad to read this about your beautiful wee boy but well done for raising all the money for charity."
Matthew was inspired by the level of care his son received throughout his life and is now going to extreme lengths to raise money for Cure Leukaemia, a national blood cancer charity which funds pioneering trials across the UK to connect patients with potentially life-saving treatments.
Fundraising details:
To support Matthew Gaut's Cure Leukaemia campaign, click here.
To support Robert Wynn's Cure Leukaemia campaign, click here.
To support Cure Leukaemia's Tour 21 campaign, click here.
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