Norwich City FC’s Borja Sainz befriends Old Buckenham boy Albert Shaw
A young boy, who has cancer, has formed an unlikely friendship with a footballing star.
Albert Shaw, who is in Year 7 at Diss High School, was first told he had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, on November 27.
His mother, Shona Harvey, had taken him to see a doctor after he told her he had a rash on his feet.
“They were tiny little blood spots, very small, flat, not sore or itchy but were quite distinctive,” she said.
“He showed me them and I told him not to worry about it, but, after a week or two, they were still there, so I thought I should take him to the GP.”
When the doctor saw Albert, they contacted the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where doctors were able to run some blood tests.
“I got a call from a consultant the same day and they said Albert had low red and white blood cells and asked if I could take him in the next morning,” said Miss Harvey, from Old Buckenham.
“I put the phone down and said to my fiancee, Chris, that Albert had leukaemia.”
After a number of X-rays, a cycle of chemotherapy was started after Albert was admitted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
The 12-year-old was given a central line, which has been inserted into a vein that goes into the right atrium of his heart for the cycles of chemotherapy.
He is currently on his fourth cycle as part of a two-year treatment plan.
Due to his regular trips to hospital, Albert told his mum that he wanted to start raising funds for Children with Cancer UK.
“The thing that made him want to do that was his understanding that not all children with cancer get better,” she said.
“He has made friends at the hospital and Albert realised that not every child with cancer will be cured – and that was something he found personally very hard.”
After setting a fundraising page on April 19, within around 48 hours, the it had generated more than £4,000 in donations, and currently sits at around £8,000.
“It is a staggering amount,” said his mum. “I feel really surprised and thankful to everyone who has got behind it.”
On top of the fundraising, Albert was also given a chance to make an unlikely friend.
Miss Harvey said: “Every child diagnosed with cancer is given a social worker and ours was given the opportunity to give a child a chance to be a mascot for the Norwich City v Stoke City game at Carrow Road in February.
“He offered it to Albert and, although he was anxious at first, as he was in a wheelchair at the time, he decided to do it.”
After meeting the players and putting his kit on during the experience, Albert was told he could not go on to the pitch with his wheelchair.
“He got really upset, so I decided that I would carry him out,” added Miss Harvey. “I started to do this but Borja Sainz, who plays for Norwich, and was paired with him saw this and carried him out with him instead.
“When he came off the pitch, Albert was beaming. I think it was such a turning point for him emotionally, as he had been very tearful about his leukaemia.”
After he met Albert briefly before the Stoke game, Borja invited the family back to spend a day at the training ground.
Sainz, a left winger, who has been named in the Championship Team of the Season for his exploits with the Canaries this year, showed them around the facility, where they got to meet other players, watch training and Albert came away with some signed shirts and boots.
“The club has been so brilliant and the players he met made a real effort to make the day for Albert and his brothers as best they could,” said Miss Harvey.
The club made a video of the day, which has helped with the family’s fundraising, while Albert and Borja have kept in contact via mobile phone.
“He always messages back nearly immediately and sends lovely messages – he really is a sweet guy,” said Miss Harvey.
“Albert asked during the season if we could send good luck messages to Borja before games, and he replied asking Albert what he wanted as a goal celebration.
“Ever since then, Albert has been following Borja and Norwich and many of us in the house will be life-long Norwich fans now because of what they have done for him.”
To donate to Albert’s fundraiser, go to shorturl.at/spqvF
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