The father of an Angus boy spoke of his joy in announcing his son has beaten cancer for the second time in two years.
Little Charlie Smith from Forfar first conquered kidney cancer in July last year but his mum and dad, Riona, 24, and Liam, 26, had to face more agony when they were told just months later that there was a seven-centimetre tumour on his pelvis.
Following more than a year of treatment, including exhaustive radiotherapy, Charlie, who is two-and-a-half now, is officially in remission.
Liam said: “Everything is fine now. He has beaten cancer for the second time.
“He is in remission, which is fantastic. It was the news we were really hoping for.”
But Charlie will have to return to hospital once a month for an ultrascan and MRI scans for a year to make sure no more tumours grow.
Unfortunately, Liam said there is a 50/50 chance his son will get cancer again and if it returns for a third time, it is unlikely he will survive.
He said: “Charlie has now used all the viable treatment. He was actually on a trial run of therapy this time.
“There wouldn’t be anything else they could do for him if it came back.”
For now, Charlie is at home with his older sister Kelseigh, who is five, and three-year-old brother Rileigh, as the family try to get their lives back on track again.
They have struggled for money as both Liam and Riona had to quit work so that one could look after Kelseigh and Rileigh, while the other parent remained with Charlie in hospitals in Dundee and Edinburgh.
Riona is due to return to work in January and Liam hopes to do the same in the following months. For now, they are just going to enjoy being together again.
Liam said: “Charlie has lost a lot of weight. Nothing fits him, as the therapy totally wiped him out.
“He still can’t keep food down, he’s on liquid feed at the moment but at least he’s able to sit down and play now.
“Every time I look at him I always have that worry at the back of my head that he’s going to get unwell again but we are just grateful we have got him home now and we’re enjoying it,” he added.