A Scots boy battling a rare form of Leukaemia is finally on the road to recovery.
Five-year-old Ace Ward is now in remission after battling B-Cell Acute Lymphobastic Leukaemia and undergoing gruelling chemotherapy.
His delighted mum announced that the Irvine schoolboy is responding well to medication after being diagnosed five months ago.
But despite the good news mum Vicky Ward, 34, admitted it is the start of 'a long horrendous' journey as Ace battles the cruel cancer.
Speaking to the Record she said: “I was scared to share the good news at first or celebrate because things can change so fast but my husband said we should.
“It is brilliant news just because he is very high risk.
“We were waiting to see if he needed a stem cell transplant but luckily he doesn’t.
“It’s the first time in five months we have been told his medication is working so it’s great.
The schoolboy will still have to continue with a painful treatment plan for the next few years.
“He has some really horrendous treatment ahead of him this is really just the first step but it means we are on the right track and that’s massive.
She added: “He still has a long road to recovery ahead of him with nothing changing in terms of treatment plans for the next few years."
Mum Vicky said the schoolboy, who is a Celtic, fan had always remained optimistic and determined to get better.
"He’s not had much luck, Ace has actually had a pretty hard time but now his numbers are looking good," she said.
“He starts treatment back on Tuesday after having a week break and will be in four days a week.
“It will include painful injections into his muscles and medicine put into his spine that goes into his brain.
“The medication is also making his feet start to collapse.
“He turns six in August so hopefully he feels better and lockdown restrictions are lighter and we can have the family round to see him to celebrate.”
The news comes after the five-year-old touched the nation's hearts by overcoming his fear of losing his hair with the help of his footballing idol, Celtic skipper Scott Brown.
The Daily Record revealed how Ace was distraught at the prospect of losing his blonde spiky hair - but as soon as he realised he would be the same as his Celtic hero, he was delighted.
She told us: “He was terrified of losing his hair. Of everything he has had to suffer, this was the thing that was bothering him the most.
“I felt so sorry for him. He actually said to me "Will people think I'm scary" and I told him lots of people have bald heads and it wasn't anything to be scared of.
“Ace loves Celtic and Scott Brown is his absolute favourite player, he loves him.
“When his hair started to fall out it was coming out in lumps on his pillow and even falling on to his plate when he was eating dinner.
“I just asked him if he wanted me to shave it all off. He said yes straight away then smiled and said 'I'll have a Broony’.”
Because Ace was anxious about losing his hair Vicky and dad Brian had t-shirts made up for the football-mad youngster which say 'No Hair Don't Care'.
Vicky, who is also mum to Hallie, seven, and nine-year-old Harrison added: “We got them made so he wouldn't be self conscious and would feel proud so we took his picture and posted it on Twitter and said he had 'a Broony' and people tagged Scott Brown in it 2,500 times.”
The Celtic star saw the tweet and called the hospital and sent Ace a signed strip which delighted the schoolboy.
Ace will continue to receive treatment in Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
