NEED TO KNOW
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A community in England is in mourning after a teenage boy was diagnosed with leukemia — and died just one day later
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Harley Andrews, 16, was admitted to the hospital on Nov. 8, and doctors diagnosed him with an aggressive form of leukemia. He died one day later
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Andrews had visited his primary care doctor just weeks before, where he was told he may have had a viral infection or “growing pains,” a family friend said
A community in England is in mourning after a teenage boy was diagnosed with leukemia — and died just one day later.
Harley Andrews, 16, was admitted to Royal Bolton Hospital in Lancashire, England, on Nov. 8, where doctors diagnosed him with an aggressive form of leukemia, according to the Daily Mail and Wigan Today.
Just one day later, the teen succumbed to the blood cancer.
Andrews, a student, rugby player and soccer player from Leigh — located about 15 miles outside Manchester — had visited his primary care doctor just weeks before being taken to the hospital by his father, complaining of an unknown illness, the outlets reported. A close family friend told the Mail that the teen and his mother, Gemma, were reassured by a doctor that he likely had a viral infection, or simply just “growing pains.”
“Gemma thought he probably needed some antibiotics – she certainly wasn’t expecting the news they got,” Kaylee, the teen’s former elementary school teaching assistant, told the Mail.
After his symptoms didn’t improve for weeks and the teen noticed blood in his urine, his father made the decision to take him to the hospital, where doctors said he had stage four leukemia, which caused internal bleeding in his brain and organs.
“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,” Kaylee 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.”
“She hadn’t even processed he had leukemia before she was told he had passed away,” she added.
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The teen’s former rugby team, Leigh East, later confirmed his death in a post on Facebook, writing that they were “heartbroken having to announce the passing of one of our former juniors.”
Andrews “will be missed by all who knew him,” the team wrote. “Our condolences go out to Harley’s Mum Gemma, Dad Kevin, his family, his friends and former team mates.”
A family friend has also organized a GoFundMe page to help the teen’s family with the 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,” states the fundraiser, which has garnered over £2,200 (about $2,800) in donations.
According to his former teacher, Andrews was the second of six children and was a beloved fixture in the local community.
“Harley was just one of those kids that everyone got along with. He was sporty, he was funny. He was just a generally nice guy,” she shared with the Mail. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a bad word said about Harley. It’s a real shame because he was just starting off in life.”
Read the original article on People