A family has shared their devastation at learning their young son's cancer has returned.
In September 2021, Sarah Cheung noticed unusual behaviour with her youngest son Lloyd. The three-year-old began vomiting in the mornings and was having "silent seizures" as well as "falling over and walking into things."
But despite attending A&E twice, Sarah said she was told he had a virus and was sent home. But the Aigburth mum said she knew something wasn't right as young Lloyd was "sleeping a lot". On October 15, he was sent for CT and MRI scans which showed he had a brain tumour.
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Subsequent surgery revealed Lloyd had an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (ATRT) - an aggressive and rare tumour of the central nervous system. It is a very difficult tumour to treat and three different universities across the UK are researching potential cures.
The brave youngster began immediate treatment in the form of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in Manchester as the family "hoped" for good news. That good news came in May when Lloyd's scan came back clear and doctor's said he was in remission.
But at the end of last month, the family received some "devastating news" when they were told Lloyd's cancer had returned. Mum Sarah told the ECHO: "He's got another tumour in the front of his head this time and four down his spine and it's spreading."
Sarah said she was told by the oncologist they "don't want to give me hope" but discussions are ongoing as to whether there is alternative treatment for Lloyd. She said: "They will contact me at the end of the week to see if they can do anything.
"It's devastating, he's so full of energy, he's put weight on and his hair has grown back. He's full of energy, playing all the time and is like a normal three-year-old boy, he even went back to nursery and it's devastating to know that at the moment there's nothing we can do. It's not a good time for us as a family."
Sarah's friend, Laura Kehrwieder, has launched a fundraiser for the family to help them make "loads of memories" for when Lloyd is well enough to do so. She wrote: "Little Lloyd the absolute warrior was diagnosed in October 2021 with a rare foe of brain cancer called ATRT (atypical teratoid rhaboid tumour) on his brain. He fought this nasty disease off and in may 2022 was in remission."
She added: "I am trying to raise money to ease the pain for Sarah and her other two children Lloyds older siblings to make as many memories as they can while Lloyd is well enough to do so.
"So please dig deep and let’s help this little boy and his family make as many memories as they can. All donations made will be given to Sarah and her family."
The fundraiser can be found by clicking here. It is hoped the money raised will go towards taking Lloyd to Disneyland if he is well enough, or trips across the UK "depending on treatment".
Sarah went on to say the support has been "amazing" as she said: "I'd just like to thank everyone who has sent kind messages. I don't reply to everything with everything going on but it all means so much."
In the hopes of raising awareness of Lloyd's condition, she added: "He doesn't have symptoms now but when he was first diagnosed he was vomiting in the morning, he was having silent seizures but he would go quiet and his eyes would roll. He was falling over a lot and walking into things.
"He was sleeping a lot and you know something is wrong. He had no temperatures but throwing up in the morning wasn't like him, he was a healthy child before this.
"You know your own child, be persistent with the doctors because they do fob you off. I went to A&E twice and they sent me home, told me it was a virus but you know your child, your motherly instincts and you know when something isn't right. I'd urge people to keep pushing."
The family has also been keeping updated with Lloyd's journey via his Instagram page, which can be found by clicking here, as they provide regular updates in the hopes of raising awareness.
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