A Northern Ireland mum has spoken of her devastation after her toddler was diagnosed with cancer last week.
Michelle Rooney's son Frankie will now have to go through chemotherapy for the next three and a half years. The cancer has taken over 98% of the three-year-old's body.
The Armagh woman is hoping that by sharing Frankie's journey, she can raise awareness on the symptoms of leukaemia, and give parents the courage to "go with their instincts".
Read more: Belfast mum's tributes to loving son, five, who died suddenly
She told Belfast Live: "We brought Frankie to hospital in April with a high temperature and rapid breathing and were sent home with 'viral'. Then in June we noticed normal bruises on his knees and shins which we put down to running around outside playing. They didn’t get any worse.
"Last Wednesday he took a spike in temperature for half hour and run on and played after. That evening, before bath time I noticed a bruise on the side of Frankie's neck and that’s when I rang my local doctor who told me to take him to A and E as he had a temperature the day before along with a bruise on a strange place.
"We went down to A and E and within hours we were told he had blood cancer. Now when I look back and knowing he has cancer I can see the small symptoms but because I was with him everyday I didn’t notice the changes.
"I would tell parents and carers to go with your instincts, no matter how small. I didn’t want to waste NHS time and I actually apologised for being an over protective parent when I arrived at A and E last Thursday.
"The weight on my heart and the fear is unbearable for us. As his parents, we are his protectors We shouldn’t be restraining him and holding him down while his little body is tortured.
"The cancer has took over 98% of my three-year-old's body. He will be on chemo for three and a half years. The good news is that he has a 90% survival rate all going well and his body reacts well with his treatment and he doesn’t catch an infection.
"Never did we ever think we would be chatting daily about bone marrow or platelets or blood transfusions or white blood cells or spinal fluid but we are. I don’t think I’ll ever accept it. As much as I know our Frankie will kick its a** there is still fear of the unknown. Check your kids. Don’t settle for “it’s viral”.
"I want everyone to know Frankie's story because then we have more prayers and that’s honestly the only thing we have now along with the lovely messages we receive daily and believe me it keeps our spirits up."
Michelle said that her son has went from a "wee boy full of life and always laughing and playing and running so fast" to sitting in a hospital bed not fit to get off it - his smiles aren’t as often as they were, in the space of just one week.
"Frankie is a real mummy's boy," Michelle added.
"He is obsessed with dinosaurs and I keep telling him he has to be brave like a dinosaur."
Family, friends and strangers who have been touched by Frankie's story, have donated to a Go Fund Me page, which was set up in recent days. The original target of £1,000 has been exceeded by the generosity of those donating - almost £4,000 has been raised so far.
To donate to Frankie's fundraiser, please follow this link.
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