A MOTHER has spoken of her pride at the bravery shown by her five-year-old son who is battling a rare cancer.

Leonie Jordan, 27, said she was left devastated when she found out that her son Theo Power had stage four high-risk neuroblastoma.

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But she said Theo, who is known for his cheeky smile, had taken it all in his stride and even returned to Feniscowles Primary School in Blackburn for three full days last week.

Since being diagnosed in July with neuroblastoma - an extremely aggressive form of cancer with survival rates of between 35 and 50 per cent - Theo has undergone chemotherapy and this week is having tests to see if it has been successful.

If that is the case he will have an operation on December 1 to remove what’s left of the primary tumour and take away his adrenal gland, followed by more chemotherapy. After that he will undergo stem cell treatment and immunotherapy.

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But in case he relapses, Leonie and stepdad Ian Stanley are trying to raise £250,000 for the potentially life-saving Difluoromethylornithine (DFO) clinical trial, not currently available on the NHS, in America.

Last year Hoddlesden youngster Sam Shaw, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2013, flew to Philadelphia and successfully completed a different type of cancer treatment.

Speaking about the moment she found out her son had neuroblastoma Leonie, of Moorcroft, Lower Darwen, said: “When the doctors told me, I was devastated. I was numb.

“It didn’t sink in straight away. We didn’t want to believe it. We just kept saying we’ll wait for all the tests to come back before we believe it.

“It’s devastating for him, but he doesn’t know the full extent of what he has. We just tell him he has to have medicine because it’s going to make his poorly tummy better.

“Before he was diagnosed he was a really happy, energetic, normal five-year-old. Everyone knows him for his cheeky grin.

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“In the two weeks before he was waking up during the night with back pain. That gradually increased until it was every night. I took him to the doctors and Theo was still in a lot of pain. He had woken up with the pain that morning. The doctor sent us straight to the children’s assessment unit at Blackburn Royal Hospital.

“We spent 10 days having tests and they detected it on the abdominal ultrasound on the Friday and on the Monday we were transferred to Manchester Hospital where they re-assessed the scans and said it certain it was 95 per cent neuroblastoma but they would do a biopsy to confirm that.

“What Theo has is called high-risk neuroblastoma stage four. It has spread to his bones, skull, spine, hips and legs.

“He’s just finished his chemotherapy, which is very hard to see him go through. He just gets on with it, but he doesn’t have a choice.

“I’m very proud of him and how he’s dealt with it. He’s very brave and he comes back fighting after every round of chemotherapy.”

Leonie said Theo’s illness has also had an impact on his siblings Gracie, one, Joshua 10, and Jayden, eight..

“Our families have been incredibly supportive and our friends have really rallied around us.”

A number of events have already taken place to raise the money to send Theo for treatment if or when he needs it.

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Around £3,000 was raised from a poker night, £4,500 from a tournament at the Anchor Football Ground in Darwen, £2,500 from dinosaur-themed wrist bands - still available at Brian Lee Builders in Blackburn - and there have been various collections. So far between £10,000 and £15,000 has been raised.

And on November 28, 84 runners will take part in The Wesham 10k in Preston.

Theo’s grandad Graham recently arranged for police officers to visit Theo and fulfill his wish to go on a real police motorbike - said the number 84 had a special meaning to the family as it is the number of his grandson’s hospital ward in Manchester.

Leonie added: “The relapse rate are very high in neuroblastoma children. If the cancer was to come back it can be more aggressive and the survival rate is very slim.

“We’re doing everything we can to raise money now because the DFMO drug has shown very promising results in other children who are currently on the trial in America. We want to give Theo the best fighting chance if the cancer does come back.”

To make a donation visit www.gofundme.com/Fight_Like_A_Kid