A devastated Scots mum has told how her "world collapsed" when her five-year-old boy was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Stephanie Dalziel, from Penilee in Glasgow, first noticed that her son Blake Gallagher was starting to lose weight in November last year.
After doctors first thought the schoolboy was suffering with tonsillitis, further tests carried out revealed he had blood cancer.
The bubbly youngster had never been unwell before and when Stephanie was told the horrific news she didn't know how to react.
The 29-year-old told Glasgow Live: "He only started school in August so I thought it was the usual bugs you'd catch from school - but something just wasn't right. We took him to A&E because he was losing weight and wasn't eating or drinking.
"It was initially put down as tonsillitis so we took him home and started on antibiotics, but they never helped at all. We went back about a week later and did bloods.
"They came back abnormal and I think they knew what was happening but they didn't want to tell me directly.
"I started to think he might just be anaemic and we'd just need iron tablets. The next day one of the oncology registrars came and spoke to us and said he needed to have a bone marrow test. That's when I knew it was a lot more serious.
"He went in the next day, and it was confirmed that he had Leukaemia. It was such a shock because you never expect that.
"My whole world crashed. I don't even think I cried at the start."
Three days after he received the diagnosis Blake started chemotherapy. The youngster is now taking the treatment in his stride despite being nervous at the beginning.
Stephanie said: "He is only five so he doesn't fully understand a lot of things. At the start he was really anxious - when the nurses came near he wasn't having any of it.
"It would take three or four nurses to give him chemo. It is awful to watch as a parent because I know he needs this to get better but it was difficult. However as he has become familiar, he has been better.
"When he visits the hospital he now always asks if his blood is fixed yet. We tell him it is getting better every time."
The experience has changed the family's perspective on everything and Stephanie now dreams of the day she can take Blake out to the places he enjoys most.
She said: "I feel like I was taking everything for granted before. We would just go to soft play or the park but now we aren't allowed to go because the chemo has knocked his immune system.
"I'd do anything to take him to soft play right now because he is always asking to go but he can't. He also used to get a McDonald's on a Friday as a wee treat but he can't have that either.
"Now I feel like I want to live in the moment and appreciate everyone I've got because you never know when life can change."
Symptoms of leukaemia include pale skin, feeling tired or weak, frequent infections, fever, easy bruising such as bleeding gums or bruises in unusual place and joint pain.
Stephanie now hopes her family's story can help others who may not have noticed the signs in their own children.
She now also realises the importance of blood and stem cell donations and is now a registered donor herself.
The healthcare worker said: "You never think it will happen to you but there is a massive community out there.
"I've spoken to mums throughout the country that say there isn't enough awareness because it still is such a taboo subject."
Glasgow Children's Hospital have ensured that anytime Blake has stayed has been as enjoyable as possible. The football daft youngster even had the chance to meet some of his Rangers heroes during his stay in December.
Thankful Stephanie is now hoping to raise as much money as possible for the hospital by walking 15,000 steps a day for the whole of May.
She said: "My motivation is obviously the really good cause that is close to my heart. I have few people supporting me as well, like my sister-in-law. She's doing it and other people want to come out and join in.
"When you are in that space you feel like the only one, but then you realise you aren't. I can't fault those who work in the children's hospital."
To support the family and donate to the charity click here.
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