Redditch youngster given football surprise after beating cancer
7-year-old Anderson Pollard was diagnosed with a rare type of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma last year
Last updated 10th Jan 2024
A brave youngster from Redditch - who recently celebrated being cancer-free - has been given a surprise thanks to West Midlands Police Chief Constable.
Seven-year-old Anderson Pollard recently rang the ball at Birmingham's Children's hospital to celebrate being cancer-free after her was diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in May last year.
Anderson’s happy ending was made even more special when Craig Guildford surprised him with tickets to Manchester United - Anderson's favourite football team - while he was visiting the police headquarters in the New Year.
Dad, Sam Pollard, said: "Anderson had started to feel poorly around his seventh birthday. While initially he bounced back to normal, he quickly fell ill again and really wasn't himself.
“At a routine appointment at an allergy clinic, he was initially diagnosed with constipation. When he continued to deteriorate we called 111 and then took Anderson to the GPs the next morning, who sent him directly to hospital."
Anderson went for blood tests, an ultrasound and a CT Scan where they found he had an issue with his bile duct.
Sam explained: "At this point, Anderson also had jaundice, which was getting worse by the hour."
He was quickly referred to the specialist liver unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital, who reviewed the scans. Given how Anderson presented, a consultant ordered an MRI.
Shortly after the family received the devastating news that Anderson had numerous cancerous tumours in his stomach.
Sam said: "When we were told it was cancer, we were just in total shock. You see it in films and you just don't think it will happen to you. It was just devastating. We had no idea what it meant and we just feared the worst."
Anderson was transferred via ambulance to Birmingham Children's Hospital’s Specialist Cancer Centre. It is the largest Children's Cancer Centre in the UK.
After several tests, Anderson was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a rare but aggressive type of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Sam said: "The consultants talked us through everything and told us that Anderson's cancer could be curable, but there are no guarantees and it would be a difficult journey. It is never as simple as going from point a to b, with many variables along the way. We had hope, which we clung onto every day.”
Treatment started straight away, with Anderson undergoing chemotherapy at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and supportive care at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Sam explained: "We were in hospital for around four months, where Anderson underwent six intense rounds of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy was really hard on his body and it was a such difficult time for all of us to see him so poorly."
As well as undergoing chemotherapy, Anderson underwent several procedures, including bone marrow aspirations, drains in both sides of his chest to remove excess fluid, a urine catheter on two occasions, biopsies and eight lumber punctures, where doctors gave chemotherapy via the fluid around the spinal cord.
In September, after four months of gruelling treatment, the family were told the incredible news that Anderson was cancer-free.
Mum, Debbie Bath, said: "It was incredibly emotional; when you go through that trauma, you expect the worst. It was such an incredible relief. We just felt such gratitude to everyone who made it possible.”
Sam added: "Everyone involved in his care was absolutely wonderful. It's an incredibly difficult subject, and they deal with it with great humanity and empathy."
Last year, actress and dementia campaigner Vicky McClure accompanied Chief Constable Craig Guildford on a visit to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where they met a number of inspirational children. It was here CC Guildford met Anderson.
After being given the all-clear, CC Guildford invited Anderson and his family to the force's headquarters in Birmingham where he was given a tickets to watch Manchester United at Old Trafford.
CC Craig Guildford said: “It was an absolute pleasure to meet Anderson and his family again and I was so happy to see that he has made a good recovery.
“At just the young age of seven, Anderson has had a really tough start to life but is still smiling – he is an inspiration to us all.
“When I met Anderson for the first time he was wearing a full Manchester United kit so it was no surprise that he was huge fan. "
Anderson continues to be monitored by the team at the Children’s Hospital, however he is now back at school and doing what he loves most in the world - playing football.