A FAMILY has been left facing their “worst nightmare” after their two-year-old son was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer.

Morgan Gildea, and Lee Farrington, from Southend are parents to two-year-old Hugo, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma nine weeks ago.

Hugo's parents say he was a happy, and energetic young boy, until October when he started randomly throwing up violently.

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His concerned parents then took him to Southend Hospital, where after a number of tests Hugo was sent to Great Ormond Street Children Hospital, in London.

Soon after his parents were told Hugo had neuroblastoma, a rare cancer which mostly affects children under the age of five.

He is now at Great Ormond Street Hospital undergoing chemotherapy, which will later be followed by radiotherapy.

Jay Ballinger, who spoke to the Echo on Hugo’s parents’ behalf, said: “He is only two years old.

“Nine weeks ago, he was running about one Saturday at a birthday party, all fine, then by the Monday was being violently sick.

“He was in Southend Hospital on the Tuesday and Wednesday, before being sent to GOSH, and after further investigation was diagnosed with this aggressive cancer.

“It is awful, just devastating, it is your worst nightmare.

“You hear about things like this, but you never ever think it will affect you or your family. The ripple effect just hits through the whole family.

“Hugo has an older sister Scarlett, who is ten, and her life is also now up in turmoil because Morgan and Lee are having to stay at GOSH, but she still has to go to school.

“It is just affecting the whole family.”

Following Hugo’s diagnosis, his parents Morgan and Lee are having to stay at Great Ormand Street to be with him.

Thankfully, due to fundraising for the charity, they are given accommodation to stay in, which is a huge financial relief for hundreds of families.

Jay has now organised a fundraiser on Saturday, January 21, at The Mill Hall Arts and Events Centre in Rayleigh to help give back to Great Ormand Street Hospital and help other families in the same position.

On the day there will be a fitness session with instructors from those who work on Davina McCall’s fitness platform including Jay, a family fitness session, other children’s’ activities, such as face painting, glitter tattoos, and penalty shootouts, followed by a party in the evening.

She added: “All the fundraising enables people like Morgan and Lee to stay up at the hospital, otherwise it would be a fortune with hotels.

“It is already stressful enough without having to worry about that too.

“This charity event is to give back to GOSH.”

To donate, visit bit.ly/3FOZU9J