Brave 4-Year-Old Boy Beats CCP Virus While Undergoing Rare Cancer Treatment

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A 4-year-old British boy has recovered after contracting the CCP virus during treatment for a rare childhood cancer. Now, his parents are fighting to help their little boy endure the remainder of his cancer treatment so that he can enjoy “the best chance in life.”

Archie Wilks’s parents, Simon, 31, and Harriet, 30, did their utmost to ensure that their son was not exposed to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, during his inpatient treatment for neuroblastoma in March 2020.

However, despite his parents’ best efforts, Archie became the first child cancer patient at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge to contract the virus, according to Metro. Simon joked that it was “typical” of his son to be the first.

The devastated parents took every measure to protect their other family members. Archie’s twin brother, Henry, was taken out of school and isolated in their family home in Saffron Walden, Essex; a community nurse was the family’s only visitor.

Archie’s dad told the outlet that his son often suffers flu-like symptoms as a result of the cancer treatment he has been having since January 2019. Archie’s parents, therefore, initially attributed his cough and fatigue to chemotherapy. But when the boy spiked a fever, he was moved into the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Archie was officially diagnosed with the CCP virus on March 25, 2020, and was placed in isolation in his hospital room for six days alongside his father.

“[W]e had no real information about how a child in his position might cope with the virus,” Simon said, according to Daily Mail. The worried father later credited the hospital’s helpful staff for keeping him calm and well-informed.

Eventually, the entire Wilks family experienced symptoms of the life-threatening virus. Simon reflected on his family’s preemptive caution, saying that because they isolated “early and completely,” they had had minimal contact with other people during the stage of being contagious.

“I know Harriet found it hard at home with Henry,” said Simon. “We’ve been in a similar position countless times in the last year but obviously the other was able to leave the house or interact with others to take our mind off the situation.”

Archie was given oxygen to assist his breathing during his few nights in the hospital but soon started to make a vast improvement. The brave 4-year-old was declared virus-free and allowed to return home to Saffron Walden on April 1. The Wilks family took to Instagram on April 10 with an uplifting message for their friends and followers.

“During this worrying and difficult time for everyone in the country, it feels good to spread a slight bit of positive news,” the post read, “that vulnerable children can also fight off this pesky virus!”

The Wilks family is celebrating their little boy’s triumph over the deadly virus, but they know that brave Archie’s battle is far from over. According to Mirror, Archie has tumors around his kidney and spine, and the cancer has even reached his bones and bone marrow.

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In an effort to raise money for a pioneering, preventative vaccine treatment in the United States against the relapse of neuroblastoma, the Wilks family is overseeing a Just Giving campaign in Archie’s name. To date, the fund has raised 81 percent of its 230,000 pound (US$290,299) goal.

“It’s reassuring for other parents to see that a vulnerable child like Archie has coped well so far with the virus,” said Simon, as reported by the Daily Mail, “but we obviously don’t want anyone thinking it’s a good idea to not worry about their children contracting it.”

While social distancing remains the preeminent preventative measure against the CCP virus, little Archie’s recovery story is providing comfort to millions of social media users at a time of great uncertainty.