When Yusuf Ali went off his food and started feeling unusually tired, his mum Tasneem knew something wasn't right. After taking him to their local doctor with little success, Tasneem - who works as a GP - took it open herself to carry out a blood test on her son at home.
It transpired that Yusuf, at the age of 11, was living with a very aggressive form of blood cancer which would have killed him without urgent treatment. Within days the young boy was in intensive care and would spend the next three years undergoing intensive chemotherapy.
The whole ordeal has had a major impact on the previously active boy who continues to avoid mass gatherings and has been unable to attend school regularly. His heartbroken family are now holding out hope that Yusuf, who loves golf and horse riding, will finally finish his treatment this December and will be free of this cruel disease once and for all.
