A two-year-old boy who is battling cancer will be among Ireland’s most ardent fans as Joe Schmidt’s troops face Japan in their second World Cup clash tomorrow.
Mikey Doran has dealt with the disease since he was just two months old and is now in Manchester undergoing CAR T-cell treatment.
His parents Nicola and James have already suffered the heartbreak of losing their beloved son Sean, five, to neuroblastoma in February 2016, a brother Mikey never got to meet.
Nicola said: “When Mikey was born he was tested for neuroblastoma, this was a simple urine test which came back clear which we were happy to hear.”
Then in February last year, aged just 10 weeks old, Mikey was diagnosed at their local hospital in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
He completed an intensive treatment programme in Ireland for his leukaemia but sadly he relapsed and it was decided his next course of treatment would be in the UK.
In Manchester, he has had chemotherapy in advance of his CAR T-cell treatment.
Now the doctors are waiting to see if these cells have taken and Mikey will continue to have regular blood tests and monthly bone marrow checks.
The family are now out of hospital and staying in the Ronald McDonald House in Manchester until they are told Mikey can return to Ireland.
While there the toddler has been putting on his favourite rugby shirt to show his support for the Irish team who will be hoping to make it two wins from two against the hosts at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa.
Nicola added: “It has been a long and hard few weeks being away from home and our families but we have to do this.
“Mikey has beaten cancer before so we know he can do it again.
“We are so proud of him and he is the strongest little boy.
“With all he is going through he is always smiling.
“He has the best big brother Dylan, 13, who he adores and who he misses lots.”
