This Christmas will hold a magic unlike any other for seven-year-old Freddie Gilbert and his family, as they celebrate a milestone they fought three long years to reach: Freddie is now cancer-free.
A Devastating Diagnosis After Family Tragedy
Freddie was just four years old when his world, and that of his parents Francis and Lizzie, was shattered. The family, from Kingston upon Thames, had already endured the profound loss of both of Freddie's grandparents during the Covid lockdowns. Seeking a fresh start after moving house, they embarked on a holiday to Thailand in April 2022.
It was there that Freddie fell ill, suddenly struggling to walk. Upon their return to the UK, urgent blood tests delivered a devastating blow: Freddie had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), an aggressive form of cancer that requires immediate and intensive treatment.
"It was the worst day of our lives," recalls his father, Francis, 45. "I didn't know how to react. I couldn't cry, I just lost my words. My wife Lizzie burst into tears. I wondered if it was one of those dreams where I could force myself to wake up and everything would be OK."
The Brutal Three-Year Battle
Freddie was swiftly transferred to the specialist Royal Marsden Hospital in London to begin chemotherapy. His treatment meant he spent nearly 40 per cent of his young life in hospital, facing gruelling side effects.
"Last year was brutal," Francis says of the previous Christmas period, which saw Freddie in hospital before the big day, on his birthday, and over New Year. "We tried to make it special... but he was in such a bad way he couldn’t enjoy it. The side effects, especially the sickness, were awful."
The family showed incredible solidarity. To help Freddie learn to swallow his medication, they practised with Tic Tacs and his favourite Nerds sweets. When they were warned he would lose his hair, both Francis and Lizzie shaved their heads too, so they were all going through it together.
Remarkably, throughout his ordeal, Freddie continued to attend school, make friends, and demonstrate immense courage. "Freddie is a fighter," his proud dad states.
Ringing the Bell and Looking to the Future
The long road reached a pivotal moment on July 9, 2025, when Freddie, surrounded by his care team and emotional family, took his final dose of chemotherapy and rang the bell at the Royal Marsden, signalling the end of his active treatment.
"It was emotional. We were tired, relieved, and so proud," Francis says of the day Freddie achieved remission.
Now, the focus is on a joyful, healthy Christmas at home. "We're so grateful to be able to celebrate the end of Freddie's treatment this year," Francis shares. "Having him at home, watching his appetite return and seeing him happy and healthy is the very best gift we could ask for."
The family is now channelling their experience into supporting Leukaemia UK, which fundraises for research into new, less harsh treatment options for ALL, a disease often diagnosed in children aged two to five.
"We're so grateful Freddie is well but the treatment he went through to get to this point was brutal," Francis explains. "The side effects on children and their little bodies are so tough. One day, I hope no child remembers their treatment, just their recovery."
