Parents of 21-month-old boy fighting liver cancer raise £25,000 for hospitals' charity Leeds Cares

Lucy and Chris Kuc's son Max was diagnosed with aggressive liver cancer Hepatoblastoma in September.

Lucy said she learned the "horrendous" news that Max had suspected cancer during a video call with doctors when she was at home and her husband and son were at Leeds General Infirmary

Both parents could not be with Max at hospital due to Covid restrictions.

Max has fought for life after multiple tumours in his liver ruptured and has spent many weeks in hospital.

He is undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Leeds General Infirmary and the Kuc family, of Roundhay, have been told he must undergo a liver transplant.

A specialist has recommended that Max goes on the transplant list in January.

Lucy is hoping she will be a suitable live donor and is awaiting test results.

Max's parents have praised the "brilliance" of the NHS team caring for him and have launched a fundraiser for Leeds Cares, the charity that supports Leeds hospitals.

The couple, who also have a four-year-old daughter called Lyla, launched an online auction and raffle on November 20, which has so far raised more than £25,000.

The raffle and auction, which closes on December 10, features prizes donated by friends.

Prizes include a private Zoom training session with body coach Joe Wicks and a golf match for two with England cricketer Jonny Bairstow and his Yorkshire County Cricket Club teammate Steven Patterson.

Max's father Chris took him to see a GP in September after a small lump was discovered on his stomach.

That night Max's dad Chris took him to see a GP, who sent Max directly to hospital.

Lucy said she wast at home and joined an online video call with doctors at the hospital when she was told of her son's suspected cancer diagnosis.

She said: "It was horrendous. The worst day of my life. They are the words no parent wants to hear, that it's a suspected cancer.

"You don't want to hear it while sat on the stairs on your own with your husband out of reach and your son out of reach."

Max was in hospital for eight days before being discharged and had only been at home for a few hours when the tumours in his liver ruptured and he suffered internal bleeding.

Max fought for his life and underwent surgery at Leeds General Infirmary before being transferred to intensive care for around four days.

He spent four weeks on an oncology ward before being discharged.

Lucy said: "We knew from very early on that it wasn't a small tumor. We knew it was very aggressive.

"We were told that here is no alternative other than a liver transplant.

"There is still a very good route to effective treatment. Three rounds of chemotherapy, then a liver transplant and then two rounds of chemotherapy."

Lucy said she is awaiting test results to see if she is suitable for a liver donor procedure, where 25 per cent of her liver would be taken and transplanted.

Lucy said: "Max will be very sick and poorly, but then he is back smiling and wanting to watch Peppa Pig again. He is just an absolute little treasure."

"Under the circumstances we are doing the best we can. The fundraising has been a real welcome distraction.

"Until you properly need the NHS you have no idea how amazing it is. We have the privilege of being treated by the best people in their field."

The online auction and raffle, which launched on November 20, has so far raised more than £25,000 for Leeds Cares.

Other prizes include jewellery worth thousands of pounds and a trip to Disneyland Paris.

And Yorkshire County Cricket Club have donated two hospitality tables for a T20 match on a date to be arranged.

Lucy said: "We are blown away - we never expected the response to be as big as it has."

Click here to buy tickets for the online auction and raffle.