PARENTS of a five-year-old boy from Oxfordshire who underwent a life-saving kidney transplant three years ago have revealed he is now having cancer treatment in an unrelated diagnosis.
Ethan Davies, from Bicester, has spent much of his young life in hospital, enduring chronic lung disease, pneumonia, a cardiac arrest and multiple urine infections.
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Now the courageous boy has been recognised with a special award from Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People, which celebrates the strength shown by youngsters who have been diagnosed with and treated for cancer.
His parents, James, 47, and Nicola, 39, - both Thames Valley police officers - have been in and out of hospital for all of Ethan’s life and thought they had seen an end to their son’s illness when he had his transplant.
They had launched an online search for a kidney donor for their poorly son in 2018.
A complete stranger Katrina Roberts saw the appeal on social media and came forward to donate her kidney. The operation was a success, but sadly nearly two years later in a cruel twist of fate, Ethan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - a type of cancer that affects white blood cells.
Mum Nicola, explains: “Ethan’s kidney transplant made all the difference to him and we saw a marked change and things seemed to be getting back to some normality. But it all changed when he got a sickness bug just before Christmas in 2019 and he was taken to Great Ormond Street hospital.
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“We spent Christmas Day in the canteen as a family, having been told that Ethan now had cancer and needed to receive chemotherapy. It had come out of the blue and was completely unconnected to the kidney failure. How can one child be so unlucky to face two life threatening illnesses before the age of 4.
“Despite all he has been through, Ethan is a true little fighter and continues to be a happy little soul who carries on as though there is nothing wrong. He really is a special little star.
“Despite missing school days due to illness and appointments, he loves attending school and making new friends.”
The Star Awards, supported by TK Maxx, are open to all under-18s who currently have cancer or have been treated for the disease in the last five years.
Ethan is on daily chemotherapy and has lumbar punctures every three months which will carry on until 2023 and also life-long medication for his kidney transplant.
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Past Christmases have either been spent in hospital or shielding to keep Ethan safe, but this Christmas the family are looking forward to spending it at home in Bicester with both grandmothers arriving to spend it all together.
Alison Birkett spokesperson at Cancer Research UK, said: “A cancer diagnosis is heart-breaking at any age, but it can be particularly difficult for a child or young person and their families - especially when many may experience serious long-term side effects from their treatment.
“We’re urging people in the region to nominate inspirational children like Ethan now, so that many more affected by this devastating disease can receive the acknowledgement they so richly deserve.”
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