A three-year-old boy who has been described as "cheeky" and always smiling has been given just one year to live following the diagnosis of a brain tumour.
The family of Eli, who lives in Wallasey, were given the heartbreaking news last Monday after they received the results of delayed MRI scans which confirmed that the child has an inoperable brain tumour.
In October last year, Eli's aunty Lucy Sapple noticed that his eye had started to turn slightly inward so she took him to the opticians where he was given some glasses.
Eli was booked in for an MRI scan when he first went to the opticians last year but the appointment was continually rearranged before the youngster finally underwent the procedure in March.
Following the MRI scan, doctors needed a biopsy after noticing something. However, the family received the devastating news on Monday.
Family friend Kinsay Smith told the ECHO : "We got the results back on Monday and we were hoping it would be low grade but it ended up being terminal. He will have to go through chemo but it won't save him, it will just give him a little bit more time with us.
"You can't even tell there is anything wrong with him, he just keeps smiling. Normally when someone has a brain tumor you can tell but he is so happy and funny."
Lucy has had legal guardianship of Eli since last year, just before she noticed his ailment. Eli is sent to attend radiotherapy sessions in Manchester, which will hopefully prolong the child's life with his family.
Kinsay and Lucy have created a GoFundMe page for "special days out for Eli" with a target of £2,000. At the time of writing, £1,725 has been raised through 69 donations. The page can be found here.
Kinsay, 39, who is a mum-of-five, said the family are trying to create memories for Eli and family.
She added: "Everyone is shocked and it was not what people were expecting but we prepared ourselves that it would not be good.
"He is just a cheeky three-year-old who can be really quiet at times and he makes everyone smile. We want to create some memories with him knowing he is on borrowed time."
