Brave boy diagnosed with brain tumour after his sister fought leukaemia

A couple whose daughter battled leukaemia and survived is now facing another battle aftertheir son was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The family of Archie Ferris, 12, are campaigning to raise £70,000 to send him to America for treatment.

Archie was diagnosed in June 2023 in what his aunt called a 'cruel twist of fate' after his sister Grace got leukaemia at six months old. She was treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital and is now 18 and aspiring to be a nurse, BirminghamLive reports.

The family from Solihull moved to Australia in 2021 where Archie was treated at a children's hospital in Perth but was left with a condition that affected his mobility and coordination and had to learn to talk, walk and feed himself again.

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His parents Ian and Fay are trying to raise £70,000 to cover surgery and have launched a global appeal so a world-renowned specialist paediatric neurosurgeon can treat Archie. Donors have already helped raise funds of over £22,000.

His aunt Sarah Mayers is helping to lead the fundraising in the UK. She said Grace spent numerous years in and out of the children's hospital before moving to Perth to 'live life to the full and embrace more of an outdoor lifestyle'.

Fay and Ian had another child in February 2019 called Freddie, but their happiness was shattered in the summer of 2023. Sarah told BirminghamLive: "In what seems like a cruel twist of fate Archie was rushed to Joondalup Hospital in June. He had been suffering with intermittent vomiting for some time which doctors initially put down to a gastro problem. They did a CT scan which showed a brain tumour.

"Archie's tumour is rare and located around the cerebellum, close to the brain stem and he has undergone surgery at Perth Children’s Hospital to remove part of the tumour. This rare tumour cannot be treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy and he will need further surgery to remove the rest of the tumour.

"Archie has been on a trial drug in an attempt to shrink the tumour but to date without success. As a family here in the UK we are desperately trying to raise the funds to send Archie to America to have the surgery he needs with a specialist paediatric neurosurgeon - who has vast experience in this type of complex tumour. "

Archie is a big Blues supporter and plays for his local team. His family just want to see him back on the pitch.

Sarah added: "The effects on the family here in the UK and in Perth have been devastating, and it seems so cruel after everything they went through with Grace when she was a baby - and now they are going through it again with Archie.

"We are desperate to help them raise the funds they need to get Archie to America - and on the road to recovery. This family needs our help." A statement on their fundraising page said: "Many of our lovely friends and family afar have asked how they can support the Ferris family through this next chapter in Archie’s treatment, and onto the road to recovery and home.

"Every contribution made, no matter the size, will go directly towards Archie’s treatment costs in America and his journey towards recovery. We are extremely grateful as a family for all your continued kindness and support. The Mayers and Ferris family."

To raise funds for Archie's GoFundMe page, click here.

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