Ukrainian Six-year-old boy with severe cancer, who fled to Irish with his family just days after the war started is fine after months of intensive care in hospital here.
Leonid Shapoval underwent a bone marrow transplant in Dublin after doctors in Kiev told his parents they could do no more to treat his leukemia when war broke out.
Leonid arrived in Ireland in March last year when he visited the home of his great-aunt, Victoria Walden, near Ballydehub in West Cork, reports RTR.
He was seriously ill, his family was scared and the future looked bleak.
The opposite situation is evident with the young man in recent days: now he is smiling, happy and healthy.
Shortly after his family’s arrival in Ireland, Leonid underwent a bone marrow transplant at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) in Crumlin, Dublin, reports RTE.
More than a year after his arrival, the young man and his family are happy: he is now cured and without cancer.
Leonid’s mother Yana said: “Sometimes we had really bad days, but now he’s just fine,” reports RTE.
“He loves learning. He loves studying. He picks things up just like that. He’s a caring, loving boy and that’s what we need in Ireland – care and love.” she added, reports RTE.
Last August, Leonid rang the bell at CHI Crumlin Children’s Hospital to report that his treatment was over.
Subsequent checks: first weekly, then fortnightly and then once every three weeks and then once a month.
“Now he has full energy again. He has a good appetite. Now he can eat, he can drink. He can have a normal life. After the bone marrow transplant, he is a healthy boy,” his mother said, reports RTE.
The family now live in Dublin as his ongoing healthcare needs are easier to access there.
They plan to stay in Ireland for a long time and Leonid is looking forward to starting school soon.
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