Callum deserves the best present of all

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Sunday 23rd Dec 2007.

CALLUM finds it hard to lift his eyes up to see his newly unwrapped presents.

As other children flit excitedly from gift to gift, the five-year-old is glad just to be able to sit up and eat.

Swindon Town players Lee Peacock and Billy Paynter called in to his Penhill home to give him his favourite Toy Story characters from the Adver.

His mum Anna Eagle, 22, and dad Craig Kaye, 24, just want to give him what other five-year-olds don't have to wish for - life.

"We will try anything to save him," said Anna.

The family are confident that they will be able to take Callum to New York next year for life-saving tumour treatment, which the NHS cannot give him.

"We are definitely going to America," said Anna.

"Because the appeal is going so well, we will be going sooner rather than later."

UK doctors have said after intensive chemotherapy, Callum only has about six months to live.

Now they have passed over his medical records to doctors in the US.

Anna said her son has already grown stronger in the past month.

He hasn't had an epileptic fit in three weeks and is beginning to make sounds again and feed himself.

He is also starting to watch television again and even tried to grab a toy off two-year-old sister Phoebe recently.

He is being fed a purely organic diet, which has more antioxidants according to some scientific research.

Nearly every day Anna takes him to Milton Keynes for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is also helping.

"He is doing really well," said Anna.

"We are trying to get him to stand up with the help of physiotherapy."

Kind donors from Swindon have rallied around, and have raised £40,000 towards the £170,000 deposit needed to secure initial treatment.

Anna said: "I can't believe how much people are helping out.

"I thank them from the bottom of my heart. I didn't expect them to come together so much."

Town star Lee said: "When you see people struggling through Christmas, it is a shame. It is heartbreaking to see Callum.

"But from what his mum says he is coming on leaps and bounds, but going to America should make the difference."

Striker Billy said: "It is so sad to see Callum like this at Christmas but it is nice to give him presents.

"The one present his mum wants is for him to get better. Hopefully we will be able to raise enough for him to go to America."

A draw takes place for Callum today.

For more information visit: www.callumsappeal.co.uk

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