12:38pm Wednesday 14th August 2002
By Joseph O Shea
The need to raise funds to help James Haddad, the West Croydon boy with a life-threatening brain illness, has become urgent, after an emergency brain scan last week revealed his condition has worsened.
His parents Robert and Susan requested another scan after James' initial symptoms returned, giving him the double vision, titled head and poor balance he endured before his course of radiotherapy in February.
James had an MRI brain scan at the Royal Marsden Hospital on Wednesday, August 7, and his family were soon given the devastating news that the illness had progressed.
Robert told the Guardian: "We are absolutely devastated by this news, particularly as James had been so well until recently."
The last MRI scan at the beginning of July had shown no progression in the condition, giving the Haddads and doctors hope that the pioneering drugs and range of supplements James takes in 35 tablets daily, were beating the illness.
But the crushing news, means there is renewed urgency to raise the target figure of £80,000, needed to help seek treatment abroad.
Robert said: "We really need people to help us as quickly as possible now, because the need to get to the states is much more urgent than we had expected.
"The only option now is to see what's happening in Canada or the US, and we are waiting for the consultant from the Royal Marsden to suggest the best options."
The Appeal Fund currently stands at £17,500, with over £3,500 kindly donated by Guardian readers, but the high costs of treatment in America, means they urgently need more money.
Robert added: "We know that many people have already helped the appeal and we cannot thank them enough, but we need to raise money quickly to give our son the best possible chance."
To that end, we would like to hear from anyone who can help with fund-raising for the appeal.
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