Family of four-year-old Liam Scott from Sevenoaks have just over one month to raise final £11,000 for rare cancer treatment
14:14, 14 July 2020
updated: 15:15, 14 July 2020
A family have just over a month left to raise the remaining £11,000 for a four-year-old's potentially life-changing cancer vaccine.
Liam Scott, from Sevenoaks, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a very rare form of cancer, just over a year ago and a day after his mum, Claire Scott, gave birth to her second child.
Since then, Liam has endured chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and infections, often leaving him unable to get out of bed and having to be fed through a tube.
Along with his parents and one-year-old sister, Kylie, Liam has spent more time in hospital than out recently.
Ms Scott says the whole experience has been "incredibly traumatic".
The 40-year-old said: "I remember just before Kylie was born, I was in tears… I broke down thinking of Liam and all that he was going through and all that he needed to go through.
"For some time me and Liam's dad, Mike, would just pass each other in the hospital car park and he had to take time off from work."
She added: "The first dose of chemo was possibly the worst time - we had never experienced anything like it. Liam couldn't move at all because it was too painful for him. It was hard to have a positive mindset. The doctors told us he had a 40 to 50% chance of survival when he was first diagnosed.
"Kids tend to just get on with it but at times, Liam has been really depressed, spending months in hospital. There have been periods when he hasn't even been able to get out of bed and walk around - it's terrible."
Now nearing the end of six months of immunotherapy, to get rid of the last malignant cells, Liam is hoping he can go to New York for a vaccine which could prevent the disease from returning.
The ground-breaking clinical trial is only available at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and costs £232,000.
With the chance of the cancer coming back more likely just after immunotherapy, time is of the essence and Liam needs the vaccine by the beginning of September.
Through various fundraisers - including former Dagenham and Redbridge player Charlie Holmes running 140 miles for the cause and South African rugby legends Stefan Terblanche and Justin Swart, joined by rowing pro Hank McGregor rowing the equivalent length of the English Channel on Durban’s famed Golden Mile - £221,000 has been donated so far.
Mr Holmes and Liam's dad are also planning to kayak across The Channel, but this has been delayed due to bad weather.
But without the full amount, all that has been generously donated so far can't be put to use - so any donations to make up the remaining £11,000 would be a huge help, says Ms Scott.
She added: "Liam has started to get stronger - he can now walk around, the treatment is working - but the vaccine is that vital, final step in his recovery.
"It's Liam's life - he just wants to live his life and we just want to see him smile. We are getting little glimpses of him now - I see him smile and am reminded of the old Liam."
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