A pack of kind-hearted police dogs sent well wishes to a brave cancer tot in a series of adorable video clips.
We previously told how four-year-old Archie Galloway was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a cancer of the white blood cells, in March 2020, after it was first thought he had a bad case of tonsillitis.
Alarm bells rang on Christmas Day 2019 when Archie, from Bathgate, West Lothian was too unwell to open presents and was rushed to hospital.
Since then the inspirational tot has fought off pneumonia and serious health scares all amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
And to cheer up animal lover, Archie, some cute pooches from Police Scotland wanted to say hello and spur him on in a video message.
Bohdi, Billy, Heidi, Leo and Diesel took time out of their busy night shift covering the west of Scotland on Thursday to take part.
Led by handler, Caz, the dogs clubbed together to 'bring him a wee smile'.
Officer Caz said: "Caz out on patrol on Thursday night with the Police Scotland dog unit.
"We heard that you're back in hospital, Archie and you're not feeling too good.
"So we're hoping that the dogs might bring you a wee smile."
A beaming Archie was caught on camera reacting to the kind gesture and loved virtually meeting the 'awesome' pups.
The brave toddler said: "Thanks Caz, the dogs are awesome."
It's been a rough ride for fighter Archie who's now in the maintenance stage of his cancer treatment that started as Scotland went into lockdown last March.
His doting dad, 44-year-old Andi, is amazed by his little boy's strength.
"Archie has chemotherapy at hospital every month and gets daily oral chemotherapy at home," the firefighter told the Record.
"With his immune system being so weak, he's been in hospital 90 times this year alone with infections.
"This treatment will last for another two years.
"With the pandemic, it's been a mad time but we're getting through it."
He added: "Archie loves all animals and dinosaurs whereas Leah is mad on dogs, they loved the video.
"All of the emergency services have been amazing in reaching out, offering support and asking after Archie.
"It really means a lot."
This isn't the first time the emergency services have stepped up to support Archie.
Andi's fire service colleagues at Bo'ness station shaved their heads last year in solidarity with the tot.
Lisa, a 43-year-old teacher, recalled her son's terrifying decline.
She said: “Archie went from a high energy boy to being unable to climb the stairs. On Christmas Day 2019, he could barely lift his head off the couch.
"He definitely wasn’t right so Andi took him in to St John’s hospital in Livingston.
"I was at home looking after our daughter Leah when I got a phone call from Andi.
"I expected him to say that Archie was okay and it was just a bad case of tonsillitis.
"But I could tell straight away from the sound of Andi’s voice that he was upset.
"Tests had shown up what the doctor described as a blood disorder.
"Archie was blue lighted through to hospital in Edinburgh the next morning.
"He would at any other time have loved a trip at speed in an ambulance but he was too unwell to even notice.”
It was the second time the family had been touched by the disease. Archie’s grandma, Julie Hardwick was just 56 when she died on February 14, 2017 from bowel cancer.
She had lived long enough to see a 4D baby scan of Archie, who was her first grandchild, but died three months before Archie was born.
Now it was Archie’s turn to battle the disease and both Lisa and Andi were determined to be there every step of the way.
Cancer still claims the lives of around 510 under 25s in the UK every year.
For more information the Cancer Research UK website.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
