Grieving Mom Devastated by New Baby Son's Leukemia

Sophie Kitcher acute myeloid leukemia Baby Ralphie leukemia

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Nov 09, 10:56 am

Photo: (Photo : GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images)

A mom whose baby son died last year said she could not understand how life could be cruel to her after her new baby was diagnosed with leukemia.

Sophie Kitcher suffered extreme heartbreak when her son Huxley died in July 2021 when he was just three days old. The 34-year-old mom, who hails from Ware in Hertfordshire, was told this week that her one-month-old son Ralphie had acute myeloid leukemia.

She said that she does not understand how life can be so cruel, and her baby has now got to go through this. Friends have rallied together in support of the family, setting up a GoFundMe page to help pay for their accommodation while baby Ralphie undergoes chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for the next five months.

Baby Ralphie given just 30 percent chance of survival

The prognosis is not so good; doctors have said Ralphie has a 30 percent chance of surviving. Sophie said in a post on the social media platform Instagram that there they were again as if they had not already been through hell and back. She said that their beautiful darling rainbow boy had been diagnosed with leukemia.

Sophie had a message for her son Ralphie, saying in the post that he is their purpose and why they are still both here today, fighting for him with his brother looking over them.

She then made a plea to everyone, asking her followers to please say their prayers for them as mommy and daddy are absolutely broken in pieces. She added that she still can't believe why this has happened to her son, saying that he is so perfect.

Sophie's son Huxley was diagnosed with Down's syndrome at birth in July of last year. He later died during surgery as doctors tried to repair a hole in the child's intestine.

Funds being raised for the family to help with hospital expenses

The grieving parents were blessed with the arrival of baby Ralphie. He was born at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow on October 5. Ralphie was given the middle name Leo in memory of his big brother Huxley, who was born under the star sign, according to BBC News.

Sophie said that she felt baby Ralphie had arrived to help heal mommy and daddy's broken hearts. She added that their newborn son had made them smile again. That smile was taken away again with the news that Ralphie had been diagnosed with leukemia.

A family friend created the fundraising page to help them with the funds because the hospital where they are staying only allows one parent to be there at a time. The page has raised more than £50,000 so far, which would help the couple be together during this extremely difficult time.