A terminally ill teenager has donated almost his entire life savings to a fellow a cancer patient—a six-year-old boy who lives in the same town.
Nineteen-year-old Rhys Langford from Ebbw Vale, Wales in the United Kingdom was diagnosed with osteosarcoma—a type of cancer that begins in the cells that form bones—in October 2020.
Langford is severely ill with the disease and has been told by doctors that he has only a few months to live.
Read more
Woman, 24, Worried About Bloating Found to Have 'Enormous' Ovarian Tumor
How To Get More Deep Sleep To Wake Up Refreshed
Father Dies of Cancer Weeks After Diagnosis, Leaving Behind Pregnant Wife
Earlier this month, Langford was reading the story of another boy from his town, Jacob Jones, who had undergone grueling treatment for a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma, which forms in certain types of nerve tissues.
Jones was found to be cancer-free in 2019, two years after his initial diagnosis, but the cancer now appears to have returned.
After reading the story about the boy, who he has never met, Langford told his mother that he wanted to help out.
His mother, Catherine Langford, told WalesOnline: "Rhys found the story of little Jacob. He called me upstairs and he was crying in bed reading the story."
"He said, 'Mum, I want to donate some money to him. He's six years of age and he's been ill since he was two. I'd be over the moon if someone would save him.' I couldn't believe he was thinking about someone else when he's on death's door himself."
The terminally ill teen decided to donate around £1,000 ($1,300) of his savings to Jones, and also set up a fundraiser for him, which has received more than £34,000 in donations at the time of writing.
According to the GoFundMe page, Langford has been through more than a year of intensive chemotherapy, limb salvage surgery, immunotherapy, physiotherapy, several infections, two blood clots, internal bleeding, blood and platelet transfusions.
"I have lost count of and the list goes on!" Langford said.
After finishing a round of treatment last summer, Langford became seriously ill in October 2021, and was told by doctors in January this year that his cancer had spread rapidly.
"I am dying!" Langford said. "I know nothing can be done for me now but as one of my many last wishes I would like to help Jacob and help him fight this awful disease."
"I know what the treatments and awful drugs does to your body! It's hell. Jacob is now six and has been fighting this disease most of his life. It should not be this way! Jacob's family are looking to raise money again for treatment."
Jones may have to travel to the U.S. for experimental treatment that is not available on the UK's publicly-funded National Health Service. Money from the fundraiser will go towards this future treatment.
Langford's mother said: "Although our hearts are breaking because our son is dying, our hearts are bursting with pride."
Stock image showing a young boy in hospital. A terminally ill teenager has donated almost his entire life savings to a six-year-old boy who also has cancer.Stock image showing a young boy in hospital. A terminally ill teenager has donated almost his entire life savings to a six-year-old boy who also has cancer.iStock
