An identical twin whose symptoms were shrugged off as anxiety or autism was later told he has a brain tumour.
Sid Earley began missing school due to headaches and bouts of vomiting, but doctors said his symptoms were nothing to worry about.
But the seven-year-old's concerned parents, Alex and Simon, noticed his eyes started to turn inwards and flicker, and he developed coordination issues, so they took him to the optician.
It was then, on June 5, that Sid was sent for an MRI scan, and his parents were told he had a huge tumour on his brain, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Sid’s aunt Robyn Dunbar, 33, said his parents were devastated and have been “living in a bubble” ever since the diagnosis.
She added: “They’re just completely in it at the moment, it’s so hard. They want to get in touch with people who have been in similar situations, people who might know about it and maybe help point them in the right direction."
The couple, from Prenton, Wirral had to sit and wait as their little boy underwent 10 hours of invasive brain surgery to remove the tumour, which had been pressurising his facial nerves, causing sight and coordination difficulties.
Although the surgery was successful, the aggressive nature of the tumour and the microscopic cancer cells remaining in his brain meant there was no option but to send him abroad for potentially life-saving proton therapy treatment, which is not available on the NHS.
So Robyn set up a JustGiving page to raise funds to help pay for the treatment and support Sid and his family.
In under one week, over £10,000 has been raised.
Robyn said: “We just want to say a massive thank you to everyone that’s helped us, we don’t think we can say thank you enough.”
The money will also go towards helping Sid’s twin brother Mac travel with his brother to support him during his treatment.
Mrs Dunbar said Mac had been hit particularly hard by Sid’s illness.
She said: “They’re like peas in a pod, they couldn’t be closer. They absolutely adore each other.
“Mac spent every night in Sid’s bed while his brother was in hospital."
‘Super Sid’, as he has become known on his aunt’s JustGiving page, has since been discharged from hospital and will be treated as an outpatient while he waits for his treatment to become available.
Although the target amount of £5,000 has already been reached, Mrs Dunbar said the amount they will need is likely to be a lot more.
She said: “We have no idea the costs that will be endured whilst away and also maintaining their family home and bills whilst not having the opportunity to work throughout the duration of Sid's treatment.
“What I do know however is that every penny raised will help ease some of the pressure on my amazing family.”
You can help support Sid and his family by donating here .