A boy whose mum thought he had conjunctivitis is in fact suffering from a serious condition, leaving her devastated. Jade Williams said little Rhys had hardly any symptoms but now doctors have diagnosed a rare type of eye cancer.
The youngster has been undergoing chemotherapy at Birmingham Children’s Hospital - but has been told that if it doesn’t show quick results his eye will have to be removed. Mum Jade said she noticed his left eye seemed ‘glazed’ and then it started getting red around the pupil.
She explained: “He kept saying his eye was ‘sunny’. Then I noticed he was getting worse and the pupil was getting more red.” He has pictures taken of his eye at Specsavers and when she sent them to an optometrist she was told that she had to take him to A&E immediately.
After a number of tests doctors told her that he has the most aggressive type of tumour in his left eye. Mum of four Jade said: “When I put the kids to bed, that’s when I broke down. You cannot prepare yourself, it was a sinking feeling.”
Rhys now has to undergo treatment at the Oncology unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital - one of only two hospitals in the UK to offer it - every four weeks. Jade added: “There’s nothing worse than seeing him in pain. It’s heartbreaking and I cry at every single appointment.”
Despite the tragic circumstances, Rhys is being incredibly brave and still enjoys helping Jade with baby Arthur. The 29-year-old mum said: “He is amazing with him. He likes to help feed and change him.
“He loves playing football and we were about to start him in a team before all this, which is a shame.
“He knows he has a poorly eye, and while we don’t hide the word ‘cancer’ around him, he just knows he has to go to the doctors because he’s unwell.”
The family are struggling financially with her and partner Chris Friery, as well as Rhys’ dad Kurt are splitting the care between themselves. This means they have to move their shifts around and take time off for hospital visits. Jade is also self employed so is not receiving an income while she is on maternity leave.
“But it’s things like hospital parking and meals that are a struggle.” Jade has put together a fundraiser to raise vital funds to help her family through this - visit the GoFundMe page page here. She is also donating a portion of the proceeds to the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust to raise money for care packages for parents who are in the same position as her own.
