Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

£500,000 appeal launched for Liam




Five-year-old Liam Andrew with his parents, Stuart and Amanda, and sister, Evie, 3
Five-year-old Liam Andrew with his parents, Stuart and Amanda, and sister, Evie, 3

An appeal has been launched to raise £½m to help a five-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with a rare incurable and inoperable brain tumour.

Liam Andrew, 5, of Beacon Heights, Newark, has a cancerous tumour called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gloma (DIPG).

Surgery to remove it is impossible because of where it sits.

The tumour grows in an area of the brain that controls sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder control, hearing, taste, eye movement, facial expressions, facial sensation, and posture.

Liam had a brain scan at King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, last week, which discovered the tumour.

It was followed by a second scan at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, the next day that diagnosed the type.

The hospital sees only one child a year with a DIPG.

Liam’s cousin, Mrs Laura Fearnley, of Fernwood, said it was devastating news.

“You can’t describe it,” she said. “This was the worse news.

“It shouldn’t happen to anybody let alone a five-year-old child.”

The family are looking at alternative therapies and options that might work for Liam.

They have seen stories of families travelling to Mexico, the US and Germany and have come across two possible treatments.

At present, the only treatment on the NHS is radiotherapy, which shrinks the size of the tumour before it comes back again.

Liam is due to start a six-week course of radiotherapy next week. That will enable him to live for up to a year.

Liam Andrew
Liam Andrew

Laura said most of the specialist trials and treatments they had seen cost about £350,000.

“As a family there is not a lot anyone can do to make this situation better,” she said.

“But we want to try to ease the financial worry.”

A JustGiving page has been set up by Laura and her husband along with her mother, Mrs Tracy Ferguson.

The money will be used to pay for any treatments that might help Liam.

They would also love to be able to send Liam, his parents Stuart Andrew and Amanda Ferguson, and his little sister, Evie, 3, to Disneyland so they can make some special memories.

Laura said Liam, a pupil at Coddington Primary School, loved anything car-related, Big Ben, the Solar System, dancing, Minions and Nottingham Forest Football Club.

“He loves people and he is always telling you how much he loves you,” she said. “You will never meet a happier little boy. He will do anything for anyone just to make them smile.”

They are hoping people will rally round and organise lots of fundraising events to help.

Laura said they would like to do something at Newark Festival and have been in contact with Newark Sports and Fitness Centre to see if they can organise a spin-athon.

“We need to raise as much as possible — and quickly,” said Laura.

“We have got to keep fighting for our gorgeous boy and need all the help we can.”

Donations to the fund can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/love4liam



Comments | 0
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More