15-year-old Alan Bainbridge to receive bravery award
Nov 26 2009 by Helen Rae, The Journal
COURAGEOUS Alan Bainbridge has been nominated for a bravery award for “keeping his smile” through gruelling cancer treatment.
While the 15-year-old’s friends are out playing football or socialising together, Alan is having chemotherapy to treat a life-threatening cancer.
The teenager, of Blyth, Northumberland, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in May last year after complaining about feeling unwell and suffering severe pains in his legs.
Since then he has been in and out of Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary undergoing treatment.
His hair fell out three times and he is in so much agony that on the rare occasion he does go out he is confined to a wheelchair because he finds it difficult to walk.
The Blyth Community College pupil said: “Since I was diagnosed with leukaemia it has been really hard and I’ve been in a lot of pain.
“My life has completely changed. I’m not able to do the things I did before, like play football or see my friends.
“I used to go out all the time but that doesn’t happen any more. It is important to stay positive and I try to do that as much as I can.”
His diagnosis last year was a terrible shock for his mum, Deborah, 41, and siblings Emma, 14, Thomas, 13, and Liam, five.
Speaking from their home in Weardale Avenue, mum-of-three Deborah said: “When you’re told your son has leukaemia you immediately fear the worst as it is a life-threatening condition.
