WHEN a newly-pregnant Laura Atkinson attended a routine eye checkup at a supermarket opticians four years ago, she could never have predicted what lay ahead.

Only a day after the appointment at Tesco on Winwick Road in November 2014, she was diagnosed with having cancer of the eye at the age of 34.

Two days later Laura underwent surgery to remove the tumour on the back of her eye, but her young family’s troubles were only just beginning.

In January 2015, a 20-week scan revealed her unborn second child’s heart had not developed properly and that he would need to undergo open heart surgery in the days after his birth.

The same week, Laura was told that it was ‘highly likely’ that her cancer would return in the future.

Baby Dylan was eventually born on June 9 that year, having his operation two weeks later and spending the next two months in hospital.

Laura continued to have regular scans until she received a phone call while on holiday in August last year with the news that a problem had been found on her liver.

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The following month, doctors confirmed that her cancer had returned and that it could not be removed through surgery or radiotherapy.

Having initially been part of a clinical trial, the 37-year-old was subsequently informed that her only option to continue the treatment was to fund it herself privately at a cost of £160,000.

While Laura’s family have been able to fund the first two cycles of the chemosaturation treatment by remortgaging homes and using savings, they have now exhausted their funds and still need to raise £80,000.

Now they have appealed for help to fund the remaining cycles.

Laura’s younger brother Dan Mcsherry said: “It was very difficult for Laura when she was withdrawn from the trial.

“Everything that could have gone in her favour hasn’t.

“The treatment has a massive success rate for people with her type of cancer, and it was the last chance saloon.

“We basically had two weeks to find enough money to find the money to fund the first round of treatment.

“We’re trying everything we can to raise the rest of the money.”

Laura is desperate to be by three-year-old Dylan’s side on first day at school in September next year.

Dan added: “She is absolutely determined to get to that day, to take him to school and introduce him to his teacher.

“It’s especially important after the challenges that Dylan has faced.”

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