A heartbroken mum whose young son died in her arms is urging other parents to learn the signs of a rare cancer.
Sarah Cheung first suspected something was wrong with her youngest son Lloyd when he began vomiting, walking into things and started having silent seizures. But after a visit to the doctors with the three year old, she was told he just had a virus.
But the Aigburth mum said she knew something "wasn't right" as Lloyd was "sleeping a lot" and "scrunching his face" to one side. She returned to the doctors, and in 2021, after further tests, a brain tumour was discovered and the youngster was diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (ATRT) - an aggressive and rare tumour of the central nervous system.
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Speaking to the ECHO, Sarah said: "I did go to A&E twice with Lloyd before we had an appointment with the doctor, and we were told it was viral. But I took him to my doctor's surgery and we had a wonderful paediatric doctor who got us an appointment at Alder Hey, she was amazing.
She continued: "If it wasn't for her, he wouldn't have gotten diagnosed when he did. He went for a CT scan at Alder Hey and four days later went for an 11 hour operation where they removed it all. Lloyd was amazing, he took everything in his stride, even when he couldn't walk for a few months.
"Two weeks after we started chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy which was a brutal regime. It's unbearable but these kids are amazing in how they deal with it."
After his initial treatments, in May 2022 Lloyd's condition went into remission, but in July another tumour was discovered growing in the front of his head and four down his spine, meaning his cancer had returned and was rapidly spreading.
Last October, the family were given the heartbreaking news there was nothing else that could be done and it was "only a matter of time". Lloyd died in his mum's arms at Alder Hey Children's Hospital on November 4, 2022 at 6.44am.
Sarah told the ECHO parents need to trust their gut when it comes to their children's symptoms. She added: "There needs to be much more awareness. Now I've been through this with Lloyd, you don't realise how many kids are getting sick.
"From the moment Lloyd started throwing up, before he was diagnosed, I just knew in my head it was serious. Doctors should push for scans a bit more. I was told it was viral at first and if it wasn't for my doctor, we'd have kept going down that route and it would've been God knows how long until he was diagnosed. Just push for answers.
"You know your child and you know when something isn't right, listen to your gut and push until you get those tests."
Despite his gruelling battle, young Lloyd remained an inspiration to all and always had a smile on his face. Paying tribute to her son, Sarah said: "He was always smiling, he always wanted to play, especially when he saw other children at the hospital.
"He was an inspiration, he was one of a kind. I have two other children as well but he was different, he was a right wild child and a rebel. He made everyone laugh and smile. I miss him so much, I feel so lost without him."
March marks brain tumour awareness month as The Brain Tumour Charity urge people to know the signs. Common symptoms in children include:
- Headaches
- Changes in vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Balance problems
- Seizures
- Behaviour changes
- Abnormal head position/Abnormal growth
- Excessive thirst
- Reduced consciousness
Close friend Laura Kehrwieder previously said: "He was a happy go lucky boy, he didn't deserve it. No kid, no-one does but he was so boisterous and the loveliest boy you'd ever meet. He loved fire engines, loved Spiderman and he was just so happy, even right up to the end.
"He really put up the best fight, he didn't struggle and he wasn't in pain. He went in his mum's arms where he should've been."
Laura added: "It's heartbreaking, he didn't have a life. Sarah has been receiving so many messages and she's so grateful to every single one. She's not in the right frame of mind but as time goes on, she will thank everyone personally."
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