Dorchester leukaemia boy's laptop stolen by thieves (From Dorset Echo)

Cruel thieves steal Dorchester leukaemia boy's link to the world

8:44am Tuesday 21st April 2009 in News By Miriam Phillips

AN 11-year-old boy battling leukaemia is heartbroken after his way of communicating with the outside world was stolen.

Dorchester Middle School pupil Peter Lee has spent the last three months undergoing intensive treatment and chemotherapy for his life-threatening disease.

Throughout his illness Peter has been using a laptop from his hospital bed to speak to his friends and family over the internet and using a web cam.

Thieves stole his laptop from a nearby CLIC Sargent house where his mum, step-dad and brother were staying while visiting him in Southampton General Hospital.

His mum Jo is urgently appealing for the thieves to return the laptop or at least the files stored on there.

She said: “I was horrified to find someone had taken the laptop – who would do that while we are staying in a house provided while our seriously ill son lies in hospital?”

I was horrified to find someone had taken the laptop – who would do that while we are staying in a house provided while our seriously ill son lies in hospital?

Jo Lee

“That laptop was his way of communicating with the outside world.

“He was devastated when we told him it had gone – especially because it has all his emails from his friends and photos on it.

Peter, of Wessex Road, Dorchester, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in January after he became ill with a fever and a rash over Christmas.

Yesterday he was rushed into Dorset County Hospital and will stay there until he is suitable to receive his next round of chemotherapy.

His mum Jo, 32, said that Peter had used the social networking site Facebook to load pictures and diary updates for his friends. As well as this he was receiving and sending regular updates to his class at Dorchester Middle School and speaking to relatives.

Jo said it was ‘a hard time for everyone’ including his step-dad Peter, his two brothers David, four, Steven, 10, and his younger sister Jessica, six.

“His grandparents bought a computer especially to be able to talk to him on the messaging service and over the web cam because he is so far away,” she added.

“Throughout being ill Peter has been so brave and he has overcome his fear of needles and tablets so well – he has been amazing.”

The black Compaq laptop was taken from the CLIC Sargent house while other families were using the house and the main door was in constant use.

Anyone with information or who recognises the description of the laptop is asked to contact 0845 045 4545.

Every day 10 families are told their child has cancer.

Clic Sargent is the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity.

They offer families free accommodation close-by if their child is receiving hospital treatment.

They also offer help for children and their families during treatment such as specialised nurses, doctors, play specialists and homes to stay in.

They also fund specialist youth services, holidays, grants and provide a service for survivors. For more information contact www. clicsargent.org.uk