Thank you so much for taking the time to visit Declan JustGiving page.

Declan Bennett from Bracknell:-

Declan went to see his GP for his six weeks check up where we was told that Declan had a hole in his heart, and hoped it would close up as he grew older. Unfortantly in December 2008 we was told that Declan would need to go in to Great Ormond Street Hospital to have an operation on his heart in March 2009.

Declan went in to Great Ormond Street for his operation, ten days later Declan became very poorly with a high temp and a rash. He had all the doctors from all departments trying hard to find out what was causing this. 

Eventually Declan was diagnosed with a very rare bloody disorder-Secondary HLH (see below for further details)

This is a very rare blood disorder where Declan had a fight on his hands. He remained in hospital for ten weeks at this stage under going chemo & steroid treatment.

After that he was able to come home, however only for a short time (two weeks) where he then again became very poorly very quickly due to the protcal of the steriods and Chemo being on alternative weeks at that stage.

Declan was admitted back in to Great Ormond Street Hospital as this was not working and where we was told the news no parent ever wants to hear that Declan would need a Bone Marrow Transplant. 

His transplant took place on the 24^th August 2009 just before his 4th birthday. 

Several weeks in to Declan Transplant he was 100% engrafted of his new cells then sadly admitted in to PICU (intensive care) during his stay after being put on a ventilator for five days. Declan put up another brave fight and pulled through like a trooper.

Finally the time came in December that our little boy was finally coming home as he was doing so well......

However this sadly did not last long In the early hours Xmas Eve Declan was having some breathing differculties where he was taken back in to Great Ormond Street Hospital. 

The day after Boxing Day he was taken in to PICU where he was put on a ventilator and dialysis machine. 

Declan sadly passed away after a long strong and brave fight of HLH at the age of four on the 5^th January 2010.

Declan was an extremely special little boy that always had a big smile, he was brave and loved being around people. He was a ture and a natural entertainer and lived life to the full.

Declan is missed every day by his family & friends filling our hearts with special memories touched hearts to even those who never got the chance to meet him.

 Info on HLH:-

Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a very rare but life-threatening disease that usually affects babies and children. It is caused by an uncontrolled growth of activated white blood cells which stop the body’s immune system from working properly. It can be likened to a very severe form of inflammation that the body is not able to turn off and as a result, an affected child is more susceptible to infections. Treatment includes chemotherapy and sometimes a bone marrow transplant.

In the United Kingdom, there are about 15 children diagnosed each year with HLH and international studies have shown there is a survival rate of only 55%.

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Kindest Regards Sherrie & Paul Bennett Declan's parent's from the very bottom off our hearts 💙