High Shincliffe’s Benny Bahmanizad begins cancer treatment in Rome

Five-year-old Benny Bahmanizad, from High Shincliffe, had been due to fly at the end of March to begin CAR T-cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy, after a huge fundraising drive.

However, the trip had to be postponed after Benny was suddenly admitted to hospital after developing a temperature, where doctors discovered an infection in his central line.

After landing in Rome on Monday (April 20), his mum, Nicola, said getting to Rome has been “an important milestone” for the family, adding they were “forever thankful” to hundreds of donors who helped fund the trip.

Benny and his family landed in Rome this week to start his treatment. (Image: Nicola Bahmanizad)

She said: “We’re so grateful to have made it to Rome. It’s just the start of the treatment journey but it feels like a really important milestone.”

Little Benny was first diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in February 2023, shortly after his second birthday.

His parents Nicola, 37, and Daniel, 39, first noticed something was wrong when Benny started experiencing viral infections, disrupted sleep and a loss of appetite.

They took him to the University Hospital of North Durham after he developed a limp and became unable to walk, and it was there the family were told the devastating news that their son had cancer.

Benny Bahmanizad (Image: Nicola Bahmanizad)

Benny underwent two years of intensive treatment, which included a stem cell transplant, 12 rounds of chemotherapy, 20 sessions of radiotherapy and six months of immunotherapy.

After briefly going into remission last March, a scan six months later uncovered a small irregularity in his lung and the family were told the cancer had returned, with Benny starting a second round of chemotherapy in December.

Benny Bahmanizad (Image: Nicola Bahmanizad)

Nicola and Daniel then launched a fundraiser to raise £393,000 in a desperate bid to fund CAR T-cell therapy in Rome, which is not available in the UK.

Since starting treatment this week, despite the difficulties of adjusting to a new country, Nicola said Benny has been “brave as always”.  

Benny Bahmanizad (Image: Nicola Bahmanizad)

She said: “It’s been challenging for Benny to be in such different surroundings and in a country where we don’t speak the language, but he’s been so brave as always and he’s been in good hands with all of the staff at the hospital.

“He has now had his blood cells extracted and the hospital will begin the process of engineering the cells to recognise and fight neuroblastoma cells in his body.

Benny Bahmanizad (Image: Nicola Bahmanizad)

The family plan to return to Rome every four to six weeks to complete his treatment.

The mum of two said the family were “overwhelmed with emotion” as they walked into the hospital to have Benny’s T-cells extracted from his blood.

She said: “We’ve felt overwhelmed with emotion today while walking into the hospital and then seeing the bag of cells that they extracted.

Benny Bahmanizad (Image: Nicola Bahmanizad)

“We really hope that this is the start of a new journey for Benny.

“This is something that wouldn’t have been possible without the help of all of the wonderful people who have donated and supported us in so many ways.

“It’s been such a big community effort, and it was really special to see everyone come together to support us. We’ll be forever thankful.”