A young boy is "fighting hard" despite devastating news that he "doesn't have long left" to live.
Three-year-old Lloyd Cheung has been battling an aggressive form of cancer for the past year. Despite initial good news he was in remission, the fight began again when Lloyd had relapsed, and was told the cancer was rapidly spreading.
But last week, the family were told there was nothing else that could be done, and it was "only a matter of time". His heart-broken mum is sharing their journey in the hopes of raising awareness and paid tribute to her brave and "beautiful" young boy.
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Back in 2021, Sarah Cheung knew something was wrong with her youngest son Lloyd when he began vomiting, walking into things and was having silent seizures. But being told it was just a virus, Sarah knew something "wasn't right" as the three-year-old was "sleeping a lot".
Eventually being sent for CT and MRI scans in October, the family were told he had a brain tumour. 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. But in May of this year, the family were given some good news when doctor's said Lloyd was in remission.
However, this hope came "crashing down" when in July 2022, Lloyd had another tumour in the front of his head and four down his spine, meaning his cancer had returned and was rapidly spreading. Despite "hoping for the best", last week the family were told some devastating news.
Young Lloyd is on end of life care as previous treatment had not worked. Determined to make the most of their time together, Sarah said Lloyd continues to "fight".
She told the ECHO: "We were waiting for two months for a drug from America and he started on that for three weeks. He was being normal Lloyd, going to nursery and walking but then he started walking funny. A bit like old people do, hunched over until one day he woke up and couldn't walk. He lost the use of both legs pretty quickly."
After Lloyd had "taken ill" while out in Nottingham, an MRI at Alder Hey hospital confirmed the news that the cancer was spreading. Sarah added: "It's just everywhere. He was on the new drug but it hasn't worked.
"Last Monday he slept the whole day and on the Tuesday a CT scan showed a fluid build up on his brain, the tumour has stopped the fluid flow and it's building. He's had a few seizures and he slept for four and a half days and is now in and out of sleep.
"We've been told there's nothing they can do, it's just about making him as comfortable as possible. That's so hard to hear. He's so strong and is fighting so hard."
Despite being asleep for over four days, little Lloyd "shocked" his family as he woke up for a short while and tried to talk, despite "finding it hard to stay awake". Sarah said: "We are in Alder Hey now just waiting for the day he goes.
"He's a little fighter, he's fought so hard through it all. He's so strong and I'm so proud of him."
Keeping people updated on Lloyd's journey via his Instagram page, Sarah wrote her "brave and beautiful" boy is "too good for this cruel world". In the hopes of raising awareness, Lloyd's Instagram page can be found by clicking here.
Sarah's friend, Laura Kehrwieder, has launched a fundraiser for the family to help them make "loads of memories" for when Lloyd was well enough to do so. Having raised over £2,000, Laura shared the devastating news that Lloyd "hasn't got long left".
She wrote: "With great sadness I would like to let everyone know little Lloyds diagnosis isn’t good. His mum has been given the devastating news that he hasn’t got long left on this earth. Please please can people share his page so we can raise the cash to help make life a little easier for Sarah and the family. Please keep them in your prayers."
To donate to the fundraiser, click here.
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