A mum has issued an urgent plea as her young and "inspirational" son continues his cancer battle.
Charlie Stuchberry, five, was taken to St Helens walk-in on January 29 after coming out in a rash that "looked like sepsis". But after being sent to Whiston Hospital, the family received the news "no parent ever wants to hear". Blood tests showed the five-year-old had Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and he was transferred to Alder Hey for treatment.
Since January, Charlie has been in and out of hospital for chemotherapy treatment, but this causes his haemoglobin levels to drop meaning he often requires a blood transfusion. Mum Daniella said Charlie has had six transfusions in the past six months as he "wouldn't be able to cope without".
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Now, Daniella - who trusted her "mother's instincts" - is urging people to take ten minutes out of their day to donate blood where they can, which could be vital to saving someone's life. She said: "With his treatment he gets tired, pale, he has bruising and he doesn't eat or drink so when his levels drop too low he needs a transfusion.
"Luckily Charlie has a common blood type so it's easy enough but touch wood, we've never struggled to get what he needs. It's so important to donate, I can't because I've got a clotting disorder but you don't realise how important it is until you see someone really poorly.
"It takes ten minutes and doesn't affect you in any way and you get snacks supplied. It's so important that anyone who can, should do it. It's not just blood, it's platelets and stem cells. All of this, if he couldn't have a blood transfusion his body just wouldn't be able to cope."
A Facebook page called Just Charlie - fighting childhood leukaemia has been set up in a bit to raise awareness and share the youngster's journey. Charlie's signs, being more tired than usual, sore throats, bruising, pains in his legs, a rash and loss of appetite, could all be put down to other things as his family urged parents to know the "warning signs".
Daniella added: "He's coping as well as he can be with his treatment. He's emotional, he just wants his old life back, we all do. It's changed everything about us. We've got another six weeks of frontline treatment left hopefully and then he will be in maintenance for two and a half years but will still need blood products.
"These last few weeks he's been in and out of hospital, he's not had a break. He's not well at the minute because he's been having headaches, he has a sudden onset headache and temperature which needs investigating."
Despite constantly being in and out of hospital and "hooked on machines" and missing his horses and school life, Charlie always has a "smile on his face" as he battles the disease daily.
According to the NHS, anyone can donate blood if they are "generally fit and well", aged between 17 and 65 and "have suitable veins". More information can be found online by clicking here.
