A family said their life has been turned "upside down" after their toddler complained of stomach pains before being diagnosed with cancer.
Claire Formby and Mike Smith, from Runcorn, noticed their daughter Ella was not herself during a day out with their extended family at Liverpool's World Museum on March 9. The three-year-old was lethargic and complained of pains in her tummy.
The parents took Ella to their GP, but doctors said they couldn't find anything wrong. Claire and Mike then took their daughter to urgent care, but once more medics could not find a reason for Ella feeling poorly.
Speaking to the Liverpool ECHO, Ella's auntie Joanne Formby said: "In hindsight now, looking back, Ella has always struggled with digestion problems. When she was born she was on prescription milk, which contained no protein and as she got older and was potty training, she always seem to struggle or there was something not quite right.
"The day before Mother's Day, myself, my husband, my two children, Claire, Mike, my other niece Grace - who is Ella's sister - and Ella, we all went to Liverpool to the museum for a day out and Ella was just really tired and really lethargic.
"Usually she is like a little Tasmanian devil but this day she just wanted to be carried, she wanted to get in the pram, which is so unlike her. On the following Monday, Claire and Mike took her to the doctors and got sent home as they couldn't find anything wrong with her.
"They ended up in urgent care and again urgent care couldn't find anything obviously wrong with her. During the course of that week she was just awake every night in pain, crying."
Ella was taken to urgent care several times throughout the week and eventually the three-year-old was sent to to Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Following an ultrasound, doctors found a small mass above Ella's left kidney.
The three-year-old had an MRI scan which found Ella had a 7cm tumour in her stomach. When an oncologist checked the scan again, they found further masses in Ella's neck and thighs.
Ella had surgery and just 10 days after initially feeling unwell, it was confirmed Ella had stage four neuroblastoma - a cancer of specialised nerve cells called neural crest cells. These cells are involved in the development of the nervous system and other tissues.
Neuroblastoma is rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer. The family were also given the heartbreaking news the cancer spread to Ella's lymph nodes, neck, thighs and in her bones.
The three-year-old has already had chemotherapy and will undergo further chemo, radiotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplant and immunotherapy. Joanne said Claire and Mike are thankful of the support they have received from Alder Hey in the last few weeks.
Joanne added: "They are just numb, completely overwhelmed by everything. It was so much to take in, in just a short space of time. I think they are just so grateful that we live quite close to Alder Hey and that sort of support that they have been receiving from Alder Hey has just been phenomenal. What a team of people.
"I think the first few weeks, when you've not got a clue what is happening, you hear stage four and you think the worst and you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. But we have got a plan in place now and we know what dates and things are going to be happening.
"It is almost a focus away from thinking the worst. The strength they have managed to find in the last few weeks is nothing short of inspirational."
Ella was described by her other auntie, Claire Joynson, as someone who's personality "melts your heart" and has an "infectious giggle". Joanne said her niece has struggled following her diagnosis but her "resilience is so inspirational".
The 38-year-old added: "She is so, so brave. She is the bravest little girl I have ever met."
The family are now rallying around Claire, Mike, Ella and Ella's big sister Grace, 13, following the toddler's diagnosis. Joanne has now set up a GoFundMe page to help her family during this difficult time.
They have also planned a fundraising event on Saturday, May 27 from 1pm at The Beechwood in Runcorn where anyone is welcome. There will be a raffle and numerous activities during the event.
