Twin boys who beat cancer have opened a new room at Medway Maritime Hospital, created especially for young oncology patients and their families after their parents raised thousands of pounds.

Six-year-olds Austin and Edward Gasson, from Tonge, near Sittingbourne, received regular chemotherapy sessions at the hospital after developing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Austin was diagnosed in 2017, with his brother Edward told he had the same form of blood cancer a year later.

The two boys had to be confined in isolation rooms and were unable to use the ward’s playroom, as their immune systems were compromised by the treatment.

Their parents Sian Milne, 35, and Tom Gasson, 42, had the idea to create an oncology family room, as they wanted their sons to have as normal a life as possible while in hospital, as well as other young cancer patients.

Sian, from Tonge, said: “Facilities are very limited for children with cancer due to the risk of contamination in shared playrooms. So, we decided, as a family, that we would do our best to turn what is a particularly negative and unimaginable situation into one that we can look back on as having a positive outcome.

“We set up the Edward and Austin Play (#EandAPlay) Facebook group four months into Edward’s treatment to help raise funds for the room and raise awareness to support children and families living with childhood cancer, and thanks to people’s generosity we ended up raising just less than £18,000.

“That money has now been used to transform the former pre-assessment room into an oncology family room so children who need to isolate because of their conditions have a safe space they can go to play with toys, watch a film or even eat with their family when they visit rather than them all having to crowd around a hospital bed.

“We’ve also purchased a chemotherapy treatment chair which is due to arrive in the new year. Once installed, and the staff have undergone training, it means young patients will be able to undergo longer chemotherapy infusions without the need to travel to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.”

Austin finished his treatment last December while Edward completed his in July. The twins, Year 2 pupils at Bapchild and Tonge Primary School, cut the ribbon last Friday on the new facilities at the hospital’s Dolphin Ward.

The room aims to welcome children and their families with a cozy home-like environment. It includes toys and game consoles, a TV, dining table, kitchenette, microwave, fridge freezer, storage units, a couch and long-life food. The family wanted to thank the hospital for taking good care of their children, as it was not the first time Medway Maritime Hospital helped to save the boys’ lives.

A scan at 21 weeks showed Sian was at high risk of losing her twins. After bedrest and surgery, Austin and Edward were born at 34 weeks and cared for by the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Unit.

Mum Sian said: “We always knew we wanted to give back to the hospital in some way as we wouldn’t have our babies without the wonderful staff who work there.”

Chief executive Dr George Findlay said: “Seeing one child, let alone two, going through cancer treatment at such a young age must be incredibly difficult and I admire Sian and her family for finding the strength and courage to turn what was potentially a very emotional and distressing time, into a positive.”