A Harrowing Discovery: Toddler’s Stubbed Toe Reveals Rare Blood Cancer
A Crawley, West Sussex family’s world was turned upside down when their two-year-old son, Zakariyah, known affectionately as Zak, stubbed his tiny toe. What initially seemed like a minor injury quickly spiraled into a terrifying medical journey, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of a rare form of blood cancer.
It all began in May 2022 when Zak stubbed his toe, leaving it sore and pink. Within 48 hours, the injury took a worrying turn, turning purple. His worried mother, Amina, a 40-year-old, sought immediate medical attention. The pharmacist, suspecting a broken toe, advised her to take Zak to the A&E department at East Surrey Hospital.
Though given antibiotics, Zak’s condition rapidly deteriorated, his toe turning black. Amina rushed him back to A&E, where doctors feared a life-threatening infection known as necrotising fasciitis.
Zak was rushed to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London, and admitted to the intensive care unit. The next 48 hours were a blur of anxiety for Amina and her husband, Suhaib. Their son was placed on strong antibiotics but his prognosis remained uncertain. Doctors told the couple that if the toe didn’t improve, amputation might be necessary, and worst-case scenario—he could lose his whole foot.
“Nothing was making sense to me, my head was just spinning,” Amina recalled.
A breakthrough came when a blood blister formed on Zak’s toe. Doctors drained it, finding blackened blood within.
“The doctors at St George’s kept saying ‘thank goodness for mother’s instincts’, because I kept pushing for him to be seen," Amina said.
Tragically, though relieved it wasn’t the aggressive infection, the blood test results brought heartbreaking news: Zak had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare type of blood cancer affecting roughly 760 people annually in the UK.
Zakariyah, known as Zak, from Crawley, West Sussex (pictured with his mum Amina, dad Suhaib and sister Kyra) stubbed his little toe in May 2022 leaving it sore and pink. But within four days he was diagnosed with cancer
Within two weeks, Zak began an aggressive chemotherapy and steroid treatment program at The Royal Marsden Hospital.
Over three months, the doses intensified, causing Zak to lose his hair. Amina remembers the overwhelming fear and rushed procedure leading to the diagnosis.
“First thing in the morning we were told he had cancer and that an ambulance was waiting outside. I felt numb. It was all very rushed and happening fast. There was no way and no time to take it all in,” she said.
Within weeks following his cancer diagnosis, Zak was on an intensive programme of chemotherapy and steroids treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital
Now four years old, Zak’s treatment includes lumbar punctures every six months, monthly chemotherapy, and a regimen of drugs administered at home.
Life for Zak is a mixed bag of good days and bad ones.
Amina says life with cancer is tough for Zak, with good days and bad days — when he feels sick, his jaw aches and his legs hurt. But he still has a vibrant personality and loves going to school
“He was too young to describe how he was feeling when being treated and would just cry,” Amina said.
But Zak demonstrates incredible resilience.
“He’s handled his cancer journey amazingly well. He’s a little fighter. From when he couldn’t talk or walk to riding his bike,” Amina says, with pride.
“He never sits still. He’s handled this amazingly well. He’s a little fighter.
Zak, ever playful and energetic, loves riding his bike, swimming and playing football.
Now aged four, every six months he has a lumbar puncture, as well as chemotherapy once a month and several other drugs administered at home, as part of his complicated treatment plan
“He’s an inspiration to all of us. Even when he’s feeling down or in pain he carries on and laughs it off.”
He loves going to school, where he thrives as a normal, active boy.
Zak’s treatment is set to end in June 2025. Following a green light from his doctors, the family hopes to take their first vacation in three years, including Zak’s older sister, Kyra, aged six.
In the meantime, they are championing Cancer Support UK’s campaign, which is distributing lavender-scented, heatable teddy bears to young cancer patients.
This lovely gesture aims to bring comfort during the festive season.
The Edwards family demonstrates incredible strength and love in the face of immense adversity. Their story serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of illness and the remarkable ability of children to persevere, no matter the difficulty.
