A teenage boy in the UK died just one day after he received the devastating news that he had leukemia.
According to the Daily Mail, 16-year-old Harley Andrews was admitted to Royal Bolton Hospital in Lancashire, England, on November 8. Weeks earlier, he had visited his doctor after feeling unwell, but was told he was likely suffering from nothing more serious than a viral infection.
A close family friend claimed Harley was told he might be experiencing “growing pains.”
Just under two weeks ago, however, the teenager — reportedly a keen soccer and rugby player from Leigh, Greater Manchester — noticed blood in his urine.
His father then made the decision to take him to hospital, where doctors delivered the heartbreaking diagnosis that he had stage four leukemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer.
“She had only taken him to the doctor a few weeks ago and said they put it down to growing pains or a viral infection,” Harley’s former elementary school teaching assistant Kaylee Jackson, who is also a close friend of his mother, told the Mail. “Obviously, you don’t think that at 16 they could be seriously unwell. I don’t think he showed any real signs and symptoms to either of his parents.”
The leukemia had caused internal bleeding in Harley’s brain and several organs. He was admitted to hospital on Saturday, and just a few hours later — in the early hours of Sunday, November 9 — Harley passed away.
“She hadn’t even processed he had leukemia before she was told he had passed away,” Kaylee said.
A family friend has since organized a GoFundMe page to help the family with funeral expenses.
“His warm heart, bright smile, and love for football touched everyone who knew him. Whether he was on the field or cheering from the sidelines, the game brought him so much happiness and brought people together,” the fundraiser reads.
Harley was the second of six children and a beloved member of his local community.
Rest in peace, Harley Andrews.
