The Boy In 7 Billion: A True Story of Love, Courage and Hope

by Callie Blackwell

The agonising and emotional book that everyone is talking about. A powerful true story revealing a remarkable relationship between a dying son - and a mother that refuses to let him go. At the age of 10, Deryn was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Then 18 months later he developed another rare form of cancer called Langerhan’s cell sarcoma. Only five other people in the world have it. He is the youngest of them all and the only person in the world known to be fighting it alongside another cancer, making him one in seven billion. Told there was no hope of survival, after four years of intensive treatment, exhausted by his fight and with just days left to live, Deryn planned his own funeral. But, Deryn’s desperate mother, Callie would not let him give in. Battling medical errors, impossible odds and years of hardship as the cancer consumed his body and their world, they looked for more answers. After making some startling discoveries and taking massive chances - something began to change… Would their lives as a family ever be the same again?

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Medical, Memoir, Medicine

393 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2017

Reviews

[Mary Karpel-Jergic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful narrative of the love of a mother for her teenage son who has a very rare form of cancer. The remarkable character of her son Deryn shines on every page as he endures the cancer and relentless and ruthless treatments; as does the love of his mum, Callie.

The twist in this tale is that Callie opted (when there were no more medical options) to administer medicinal cannabis in an attempt to save his life. This is the crazy world we live in - in some countries you can get the drug on prescription if you have cancer or any other debilitating disease, but in the UK it is classified as a class B drug and illegal. So, with the fear of having her children taken away and the risk of arrest, Callie did what any desperate mother would have done.

The outcome of her decision is nothing short of a miracle. Deryn's recovery is a wonderful story and it is a tribute to the wonders of nature but the book is also a record of how valuable cannabis is in the fight for health. It seems a crime to have a plant with proven health benefits as a class B drug and stories like Deryn's must go someway in pushing the political agenda.

Thank you to brave Callie for writing the story. And what a lovely ending.

[Dion Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boy in 7 million is about a 10-year-old boy, Deryn, who contract two rare forms of cancer. The story is about his journey through the traditional cancer treatment system, which included several bone marrow treatments. At age 14 the doctors declared that there was nothing more they could do for Deryn and he was sent to a hospice and expected to die within a week or two. It was when all hope was lost that Deryn started receiving cannabis, initially as an illegal form of pain relief. However, the cannabis treatment produced a miracle and Deryn began to get well again.

The book is an incredible story, not just about a cancer survivor, but the story of a mother who just refused to quit. It is also a frightening story of how Western medicine refuses to acknowledge the role of nutrition in healing. And also how oncology doctors are happy to feed cancer patients copious amounts of sugar, when it is proven that cancer feeds off of sugar. The book is a must read for anyone who knows someone who is suffering from cancer and even if they don’t. Don’t be misinformed by ignorance about cancer. Read, learn and form your own opinions.

[claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational lad

A heartwarming story that has you praying for survival for Deryn through each and every treatment and diagnosis. An inspirational young man whose family and friends along with strangers and celebrities offer unwavering support throughout it all.

[Mrs Sharon Viccars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!

Absolutely amazing read, so inspiring. What that poor family went through, but what a fantastic happy ending. I hope they continue to live a happy healthy life. Amazing the things we are unaware of that could actually play a major role in saving our lives!!

[Mrs Doreen A Broomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written book admiring the whole family in a long road ahead battling her sons cancer,what an eye opener the medical profession being baffled, so pleased with the ending for the whole family

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story about one family's battle against a very rare cancer. Heart warming and inspiring.

[Joanna Jane Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very powerful read

Reduced me to tears at points but always felt a positive vibe and very well written.
I would recommend this book.

[Amy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book of pure love from parent to child. It goes to show the great lengths someone will go to help a loved one in every way possible.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book for the most part, it's an engrossing read. The title is a bit sensational because no medical professional ever told the author this statistic, it was something she worked out on Google instead so I'm not sure how reliable that is. The story of illness and gradual decline is incredibly detailed and reveals the strengths of the human character and the workings of the NHS, and also the failings of the latter at times, particularly in the case of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital which are shocking at times. What I wasn't so keen on was the final section, which just switches to some heavy-handed pro-cannabis agenda with furtive drug-giving in the wards and mysterious trips to Spain. The author didn't exactly sell this aspect to me, and I wasn't particularly convinced at the way the cannabis supposedly every single one of the problems that modern science couldn't.

[Emma Lake · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry I just found it a bit boring, I think I have enough hospital time and so other people's hospital time isn't interesting enough and I'm not learning anything new. This probably makes me a terrible person, but I am ok with that.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a sad but beautiful story. So inspiring.

[Nickie Sale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and will tug at your heart. This book is filled with both love and sadness, I cerntainly shed a few tears

[Kas]

Heart breaking and warming all in one

[Emma Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most amazing book! In absolute awe of this whole family. And so well written.

[Janet Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart breaking and heartwarming

I could not put this boo down, many ties I was close to tears, others extremely happy. A very true to life story of hope and corage

[Kay Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant read this book was. Made me cry a few times though.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional story as a mother documents her son's battle with cancer.

[Gemma Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazingly strong boy! You and your family are amazing! Couldn’t even begin to feel how I would feel in this circumstance but you braved everything thrown in your direction. A story of highs and lows and dealing with this horrible disease. I will always think of everything you all went through.

[Ayesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I was getting a sad book when I bought this and I knew what I was signing up for. I thought it would be smooth sailing and I even compared it to Paul Kalanithi’s “When breath becomes air”. But this book was way more than a sad story. It was heart wrenching and at the same time heart warming. It was filled with trials and tribulations that seemed too much for one individual to handle, but it was also filled with resilience, hope, faith and the love of a mother. God never gives us what we can’t handle and He gives mothers the maternal instinct to protect their young ones. In this particular instance, He gave Callie a husband and a son to make it all worthwhile. But boy, she is a strong woman! As I read the book and cried at lesser intervals the closer I got to the end, I resigned myself to just wait for the end. With every flick of the page, I waited for the inevitable, for when it would all be over and I’d be put out of my misery and the anguish I was going through just by reading about Deryn’s pain. I can not begin to comprehend how he must have felt, as well as the loved ones that surrounded him. However, my tears quickly dried up into trails of shocked surprise at Deryn’s miraculous recovery just when he had reached death’s doorstep. He truly is one in 7 billion and his story has taught me a lot about acceptance, faith and the will to live. I’d highly recommend this to anyone and everyone who’s looking for a true story of beating the odds.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up lifting

What can I say about this book . What a family this is so strong and powerful , there story is so moving and up lifting to others dealing with this illness . Shows how life works in odd ways

[ina grieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was on tv just recently

Absolutely loved this book, his courage,strength showed through all his treatment. And his mother did everything she could to help him as any mother would. He is indeed a boy in a billion.

[Bill Boswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just incredible, you will go through every emotion, cry, anger, cheer, smile

can not recommend this book enough

[Dawn Roberts]

Must read

Chose this book as my husband is suffering cancer looking for hope found it here through this young mans story and wishing you a very happy future x

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab read, found really hard to put down, one very brave boy

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read couldn't put it down

[Michelle Witcombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Medicinal Cannabis needs to be more recognized and utilized.