A nine-year-old boy whose parents thought he was suffering from long Covid has received a devastating diagnosis.
Freddie Woollard, from Ellesmere Port, started feeling unwell in November last year after testing positive for coronavirus.
When his symptoms continued, the youngster's family thought he was suffering from long Covid, however just two months later he was given the heartbreaking news that he had Wilms tumour.
A type of kidney cancer, Wilms tumour affects roughly 85 children in the UK each year with Freddie's dad Max describing his young son's diagnosis as a "bombshell".
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, the 33-year-old said: “You just don’t expect it. It’s the sort of thing you see on the news but until it actually happens to you, you think you’re invincible. It's just potluck. It was an absolute bombshell.
“Freddie's at a difficult age. The one thing he keeps asking is ‘why me?’ He knows that there’s something seriously wrong with him but he can’t get his head around why it's happening to him.”
After undergoing an operation in March to remove the tumour, as well as an intensive course of radiotherapy, Freddie's prognosis is good. He will have to continue to have chemotherapy for several months, and Max is incredibly proud of the way his son has dealt with the adversity he has faced.
He said: “He’s a very outgoing, popular lad who is always eager to please with all of his friends. He’s just a real friendly young kid who likes playing with anybody and everybody. Just the nicest young lad.”
Freddie has been receiving his treatment at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, in West Derby, and Max has been "blown away" by the care and support the family have received.
He said: “You hear reports on the news about how the NHS is struggling but the effort that the team that’s been caring for us have put in has been incredible.
"We’ve spent a lot of time at Alder Hey since January, when Freddie has his chemotherapy he has to go in for three nights in a row and all of the staff are just so caring.
"They’ve blown me away with the passion that they have, and the facility itself is phenomenal.”
In a bid to raise money for the children's hospital, Andy Heap, Freddie's football coach at Hope Farm Jrs U9 Rangers, devised a plan for his team to dribble footballs a combined distance of 35 miles.
This is equal to the distance from the team's pitch in Great Sutton to Alder Hey and back.
The fundraiser, which took place on Saturday, June 11, has so far helped to raise more than £3,000. The team were joined by Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, who watched as the children smashed their target.
Andy told the ECHO: “I just thought it would be nice to do something for Freddie as he’s such a popular member of the team. We wanted to do something for Alder Hey as well, because of all the brilliant work they do helping kids.”
He added: “It was a lovely team effort. All the team came down, including Freddie, and it really built the team spirit. We targeted 35 miles originally but we did that relatively easily and so we changed it to 50 miles. There was a really lovely moment where everyone came together at 50 miles to cross the finish line with their arms around each other.”
You can find out more about the fundraiser by clicking here.
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