A BRAVE boy who won the nation’s heart in his battle against leukaemia gave his millions of fans a thumbs up after being discharged from hospital and declared cancer free.
Oscar Saxelby-Lee, 6, was diagnosed with an aggressive blood cancer in December 2018 after his parents noticed unusual bruising on his legs.
Doctors gave Oscar, from Worcester, just months to find a stem cell match to save his life which led parents Olivia Saxelby, 25, and Jamie Lee, 28, to launch a UK-wide appeal for donors.
Last March, a record-breaking 4,855 volunteers queued in the freezing rain after Oscar’s Pitmaston Primary School in Worcester opened as a testing centre.
A suitable donor was finally found after a staggering 10,000 people were tested across the UK.
Just months later, Oscar’s family faced further anguish when his rare T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia returned.
But after a crowdfunding campaign raised £600,000, his family flew him to Singapore to undergo CAR-T therapy – a pioneering treatment not available on the NHS.
Oscar became only the second child in the world to have the treatment before having a second bone marrow transplant.
Now the boy’s thrilled mum Olivia has confirmed he is out of hospital and cancer free.
In a touching picture, brave Oscar, nicknamed Ozzy Bear by his parents, posed in his car seat wearing a protective mask and giving a massive thumbs up.
Writing on the ‘Hand in Hand for Oscar’ Facebook page, followed by millions worldwide, she said: “He’s only gone and done it!!!!!!!
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to our AMAZING team at National University Hospital – NUH, you have made miracles happen!
Delighted Olivia added: “We love you all!
“HOME SWEET HOME, WHEREVER IT WILL BE!”
Jen Kelly, director of the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, who has kept in touch with the family, said: “They have now been in Singapore for six months and it is incredible that he is still cancer free and that his bone marrow transplant has gone well to date.
“We would like to say a big thank you to the people of Worcestershire for helping us give this lifesaving chance to Oscar and his family.”
While Oscar is now out of hospital, he is still returning frequently to Singapore for treatment so will remain there for several more months before returning home to Worcester.
Throughout his treatment, Oscar has kept in touch with his classmates and teachers from his hospital bed via an innovative robot – nicknamed “Ozzybot”.
His headteacher Kate Wilcock, who organised the huge donor registration event and Ozzybot lessons, said: “Incredible news his last results are MRD negative, no disease.
“We are absolutely blown away – the dream has become a reality.
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