A daughter is desperate to return home to the UK as her dad's health worsens.
Lisa Martin, who was born in Bootle but now lives in Australia, is trying all she can to fly home after her dad Alan Collins was given a devastating diagnosis. Despite being declared 'cancer free' after a previous battle, Alan began to feel unwell with stomach pains and difficulty swallowing.
Eventually going to see a GP, Alan thought he was just unwell following his previous surgery in 2018, but the 75-year-old was soon told he had stage four liver cancer as well as lung and oesophagus cancer.
READ MORE: Killer says 'I'm done' and refuses to continue giving evidence to murder trial
Lisa, who found out about the terminal diagnosis when she was eight weeks pregnant, said she wanted to see her dad for "one last hug". But speaking to the ECHO this week, she said time is limited and her dad's health is deteriorating.
She said: "He's not taken a dramatic turn for the worse but each day he gets a little bit worse. He is starting to sleep a lot more now which isn't a good sign, he'll get up just after lunch and then he's asleep again about a hour later."
Lisa moved to Australia permanently when she met her now-husband. After being unable to fly back while pregnant, she now wants to spend these last moments with her dad.
Despite being given just 12 months to live, Liverpool-born Alan, who lives in Sheffield, is now in month 14 and "still fighting". But the reality is, the family do not know how much time they have left.
Lisa's friend Natalie has launched a fundraising page in the hopes of helping the family get back to the UK. The fundraising page has raised over £300 so far of its £9,000 target as Lisa said it is a "difficult time for everyone", but thanks people for their support.
She previously said: "I need to know I've done everything I can to get over. His only two wishes when I was born was that he walk me down the aisle and me to make him a grandad. Our daughter hasn't met him yet, I want him to have one last cuddle with the kids."
Anyone wishing to donate to help Lisa return to the UK can do so here.
The fundraising page reads: "Hi my name is Natalie I'm fundraising for a very close friend of mine named Lisa. Lisa lives in a rural part of Australia, unfortunately November 2021 Lisa's father was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer but also has lung and oesophagus cancer he got diagnosed when Lisa was 8 weeks pregnant.
"He was told mid December it was terminal when Lisa was just 13 weeks pregnant. Lisa's father has been unable to meet his granddaughter and Lisa is afraid she won't get to see her dad again in time. We know he's a fighter he's 13 months into a 12 months diagnosis with the power of Facebook family and friends please let this be possible and make this happen."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
Read next:
Live updates as Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive in Merseyside
Trent Alexander-Arnold's brother 'felt blood dripping' from his head after vicious shotgun attack
Man killed after being hit by HGV in Seaforth
Met Office weather warning as strong winds to batter parts of Merseyside
