A couple from Canterbury, Kent, took their three-year-old son to hospital for an infected cut finger, only to receive a devastating leukemia diagnosis hours later. Alice and Matt Stiller brought their son Henry to the QEQM Hospital in Margate on March 18 this year after the wound became infected.
Shocking Diagnosis
Doctors noticed Henry looked pale and decided to run blood tests. The results came back later that evening, revealing he had leukemia. Alice described the moment: “I honestly couldn’t breathe. I literally collapsed on the floor. It was definitely not news I ever thought I'd have to hear.” Matt was visibly shaken but refused to sit down when offered.
Treatment and Remission
Henry underwent chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, a specialist cancer center. Within months, he achieved remission. Doctors have given him a good prognosis. Alice, 36, works for a student letting company, and her husband Matt, 32, is a mechanic. Henry is their only child.
Community Support
Friend Lucy Elias set up a fundraising page that raised over £3,000 to help with travel and food costs. In Deal, where Matt grew up, The Eagle Tavern raised £3,500 through staff, customers, and local organizations. Landlady Louisa Phoenix had her head shaved by a local hairdresser, raising £2,000. The six-week campaign culminated in a major fundraising day on June 27.
Alice said: “It's incredible, especially because it's from people we don't know. The number of people at the pub who were spending so much money, even though we'd never met them before, was amazing.” Donations and prizes also came from Deal Town FC.
The pub's Facebook post expressed gratitude: “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every single person who came along, played a game, bought a raffle ticket, enjoyed a burger, donated some spare change or simply helped spread the word. Most importantly, thank you for showing Henry and his family just how incredible this community really is.”
About Leukemia
Leukemia is a blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow. Common symptoms include unexplained bruising or bleeding, persistent fatigue, frequent infections, and pale skin.
