Mum’s desperate plea after son’s lazy eye turned out to be terminal cancer
WHEN Kyle Morrison's mum noticed he had developed a "lazy eye", she thought a trip to the opticians was all he needed.
But the true diagnosis left Victoria shell-shocked and completely turned her family's life upside down.
Her eight-year old son, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour - and given just one year to live.
Heartbroken, Victoria is desperately trying to raise a staggering £150,000 for medical trials in Zurich which could save the youngster's life, with the help of good samaritan Shane Yerrell.
Shane, a support worker, said: "It's life or death now, that's the reality of it or time will run out."
Kyle's mum, 30, first suspected something was wrong on September 10, 2019, when she woke up to find he had suddenly developed a lazy eye overnight.
Concerned, Victoria rushed Kyle to their local opticians who told her Kyle needed an emergency eye appointment.
Just two days later she was then called to Andrews Lane Primary School and was told it looked like "Kyle had had a stroke".
He was rushed to accident and emergency at Lister Hospital near Stevenage and an MRI scan showed he had an aggressive tumour called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).
Good samaritan Shane, 36, a support worker for young people with mental disabilities, set up the fundraiser along with Kyle's mum after he learned about the potential for lifesaving trials abroad after reading about Kyle's devastating story in October.
"He absolutely loved it and we made memories that will last a lifetime."
A highly sought after American doctor initially appeared to be Kyle's best bet, following some research, before news came back that he was no longer accepting international patients.
Instead, Kyle's family discovered trials in Zurich.
Shane said: "Although Kyle is looking back to normal and he's back to his normal self, the doctors have still said his condition hasn't changed and that's heartbreaking.
Desperate plea
"It's such a shame about America, it's a big blow but there's the possibility of him going to Zurich for the essentially the same medical trials but we're not too sure when they'll be.
"So I thought it's best to start fundraising now and have the money ready and waiting instead of three months down the line, them saying to us he can go and us not be ready.
"We've just to get on with it now because time is of the essence and when it's someone's life on the line, especially a child, you've just got to get on with it.
"If there's the possibility this is going to save Kyle's life we have to try and we already have about £1,700 left over from the Lapland fundraiser which will go towards it as we are so desperate to get him to there.
"We're so grateful for everyone's support so far and hopefully we can now help get Kyle to Zurich."
The total cost for the medical trial is unknown but Shane and Victoria are hoping to raise between £100,000 and £150,000 to ensure he is able to take part.
You can donate to Kyle's fundraiser