Edinburgh father whose 10-year-old son is in hospital with cancer thanks community for fundraiser

Suzanne and Jonathan Smith were left devastated when their 10-year-old son Kit was diagnosed with lymphoma - a cancer which affects the lymphatic system.

The couple had to put their business, Bananas Driver Training, on hold and move into Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People with Kit and his eight-year-old brother Tait.

Ten-year-old Kit Smith has been in hospital since August, but his family hope to have him home for Christmas. | Submitted

The family now hope to bring Kit back home to Tarbrax, south of West Calder, in time for Christmas but changes are needed at their home before they can do so. The cancer has left Kit with serious mobility issues meaning they will need to refurbish his bedroom and buy him a new bed.

The family’s neighbours have rallied round to support, setting up a crowdfunder page which has raised £2,065 in just a week, after initially setting a £500 target.

Kit’s dad Jonathan, who grew up in Currie, said the support from the community ‘means so much’.

He said: “The place we live is a tiny village, but we have had tremendous support from our neighbours, helping out with our pets and other things while we are in hospital.

“The neighbours kindly set up the online fundraiser, which is really appreciated by us. I just want to thank each and every person that has contributed to it, it means so much to us.

“Kit’s bedroom is not suitable for him now so we have to fit out his bedroom, so we need money as quickly as possible, as he is due to get out of hospital in a couple of weeks, back home for Christmas.

“It’s a big relief to know we could soon be going home as a family. We have been staying at the Ronald McDonald House, so we would like to thank them for their patience with us. They are amazing.

“We don’t have a deadline but it would be nice to get him home for Christmas, but of course we want to get him home safely, not just rushed back for Christmas.”

Kit is still smiling despite his devastating diagnosis four months ago. | Submitted

Taking Kit home will mark a special moment for the family, who have had to make many big life changes since he was taken into hospital in August. And a new bedroom will be life-changing for Kit, who loves trains and horses.

“It has been hard. I hope no other family has to go through this. We had to stop our business in August pretty much,” said Jonathan.

“The type of cancer Kit has is very aggressive, if we hadn’t taken him to hospital the day we did he might have died in two or three weeks according to doctors.

“The tumour he had was the size of my fist, so he couldn’t actually eat. Nothing was going through his system.

“He ended up with jaundice, and that’s what led to us going to hospital. If he hadn’t got jaundice we might not have known and it would have been too late, it’s pretty terrifying really.

“His immune system has been turned off due to the chemo, and his mobility has been affected by the treatment. Hence we need to re-fit Kit’s bedroom.”

Kit Smith, pictured in hospital with his brother Tait. | Submitted

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He added: “This whole thing has been quite overwhelming for Kit. And our other son Tait has been living with us all in hospital, so it’s been pretty intense at times, living our family life in a hospital for months.

“However, it has brought us together as a family. Now we would love to be home for Christmas as a family.”

To donate to the crowdfunder for Kit, click here.