OKLAHOMA CITY -
A family has traveled more than 4,000 miles away from their home to save their son's life.
This Christmas, a
3-year-old boy from Scotland is undergoing a special cancer treatment in the
metro.
You'd never know Sam
O'Callaghan is battling a rare form of brain cancer. He's active and full of life,
like any other 3 year old, even when he goes for treatment every morning
at the ProCure Proton Therapy Center here in Oklahoma City.
Before his 4th birthday, Sam already had two major surgeries and chemotherapy. In May 2011, doctors found a
rare brain tumor the size of golf ball on the back of Sam's head.
"It was just utter
devastation. Our lives just changed overnight," Fiona O'Callaghan said.
After an 8-hour operation in
September, Sam's family started looking at other treatment options because
Sam's tumor had tripled size.
"Probably the hardest
thing for us is not knowing, not knowing the outcome," Eoin O'Callaghan
said.
It's a journey that's taken
them from their home in west Scotland 4,000 miles around the world to Oklahoma
City, where Sam is undergoing treatment.
"That's the most important
thing for us is Sam's treatment," Eoin says. "Obviously we'll do whatever it
takes for Sam to get better."
Since Nov. 2, Sam's been
coming to ProCure for proton therapy treatment.
"He's been off chemo now since
August so his hair's starting to grow back. His energy levels are a lot
better," Eoin says. "He's more like the Sam he was before any of this
happened."
While this Christmas will be
different so far away from home, the O'Callaghans are hopeful this holiday
season will bring them closer to saving Sam's life.
"We all have to be together,"
Fiona says. "It's a major thing, so we all have to be here to support each
other."
The O'Callaghans will go back
to Scotland Jan. 11, when Sam completes his treatment.
He's
excited about Christmas, but his big day is next week too. He'll turn 4 on Dec. 27.
Sam's parents have been
keeping their boys occupied while they're here with trips to the zoo and
science museum. They say they've been
overwhelmed by the kindness of people here in Oklahoma City.
Sam O'Callaghan, 3, is battling a rare form of brain cancer.
