Boy, 2, with rare eye cancer hailed a 'hero'

Flynn won a bravery award after undergoing 18 months of treatment for retinoblastoma at seven months old

"Flynn has fought the fight each and every day," says mum Katie of her son, who she describes as her "hero".

Now aged two, Flynn, from Wigston in Leicestershire, went through months of chemotherapy and laser therapy to treat a rare type of eye cancer, called retinoblastoma

Katie said the treatment was a "long road", but Flynn fought each day and was "an absolute trooper".

Flynn has now received an award for his "wonderful courage and resilience" from Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT), which has named him its "CHECT Champion".

Retinoblastoma is a cancer that develops in the cells of the retina in the eyes of children, predominantly under six years old.

Common symptoms include one eye appearing different from the other, a white glow, a squint, an absence of red-eye in a photograph, or a change in eye colour.

Flynn had treatment at two hospitals to save his life by reducing the size of the tumours

Katie recalled the time when "something didn't feel right" with Flynn's eye and got it checked.

"When Flynn was about three months old, we noticed that his left eye wasn't behaving in quite the same way as his right," she said.

She said he was referred to the orthoptic eye clinic at Leicester Royal Infirmary and then to Birmingham Children's Hospital, where tests revealed Flynn had tumours in both his eyes.

Flynn underwent treatment at both hospitals to save his life by reducing the size of the tumours.

Katie said: "Since then it's been a long road, involving 18 months of treatment, which stopped two months ago.

"Through it all, Flynn has fought the fight each and every day. In fact, he's been an absolute trooper, always putting a smile on everyone's faces despite being the poorly one.

"It's as if nothing is going to stop him. He's a hero; there's no other word for it.

"At the moment he's still being monitored to make sure nothing has changed and the treatment has worked, but the nature of retinoblastoma is that it can flare-up at any time."

Parents Katie and Richard said Flynn put a smile on everyone's face despite being unwell

Because of Flynn's age and relatively limited communication skills, it is unclear how much he can see through his left eye, if anything.

However, the tumours in his right eye were around the edge, meaning his sight has not been affected.

In recognition of his bravery, while battling against the disease, Flynn won CHECT's Champion Award.

Richard Ashton, the charity's chief executive, said: "So often, children affected by retinoblastoma face huge disruption, upset and distressing treatment.

"We are delighted to recognise the wonderful courage and resilience shown by Flynn throughout his treatment and beyond.

"He really is a thoroughly deserving champion. A hero, as his mum says."

He urged parents to be aware of the symptoms and to have their child checked if they are concerned.

CHECT supports people affected by retinoblastoma, helping families cope with the diagnosis and funding research.