Brave Charlie inundated with birthday presents
BRAVE cancer battler Charlie Procter has been inundated with birthday cards and presents just days after his heartbroken parents announced a fundraising appeal to get him life-saving treatment has ended.
Nearly £360,000 had been collected for the five-year-old from Church so he could travel to America for treatment not available in the UK.
However, Amber Schofield and Ben Procter were given the devastating news that Charlie, who has just weeks to live, is now too sick to receive treatment and that his cancer is ‘not curable’.
In a letter shared by Amber, Dr James Geller said: “We have discussed Charlie’s case this morning and given his current liver and kidney function, which is not reversible with any sort of interventional approaches, we have nothing to offer Charlie here in Cincinnati, and thus we discourage travel.
“I’m terribly sorry that Charlie’s hepatoblastoma is not curable, and hope you can enjoy the time you have with him making memories, and know that you have done and continue to do everything you can to try to help your son.”
Amber said they are ‘heartbroken’ but ‘haven’t given up’ and have thanked everyone for their incredible support.
She wrote: “Charlie’s fundraising will now stop. We are still going to try and help his liver, we don’t want to give up now.
“We wish to thank everyone for the outpouring of support you have shown for Charlie and our family. It breaks my heart to share this update with you, but there is nothing Cincinnati Children’s can do to help Charlie now. We are grateful for the thoughts and prayers that have come our way.”
Dozens of people gathered at the Brooks Club in Accrington on Saturday for Charlie’s sixth birthday party where he received hundreds of presents and more than 300 cards.
Amber said he isn’t six until April 2019 but has ‘so longed to be six that we we have to give him that’.
She said: “Charlie has had the most amazing birthday EVER! Our house is crazy! We have so much to get through, that’s Charlie’s favourite part!
“We were very overwhelmed with his party. It was perfect. We have to face reality sometimes, and as much as we are still trying to heal his liver naturally we know in our hearts it may not work.
“This day is something we will treasure forever. The most amazing memories made today with everyone who loves and cares about Charlie.”