'Our son was man of the match - then days later we got devastating news'

A mum revealed the shocking news her 11-year-old son received just days after he was awarded "man of the match" at a game. Tracey Jones shared how a nightmare started for her son, Nicholas, when he was given a "devastating " after feeling unwell just days after his special match.

Nicholas, who live in Clayton le Moors, , with his , her husband Nick, and two siblings aged 14 and 27, was shockingly diagnosed with a form of at his young age. Tracey revealed the terrifying moment Nicholas told her he wasn't feeling well and was "drained of energy" on February 26, just days his award winning performance on the pitch.

Tracey said: "Nicholas started to feel unwell around six days before he was diagnosed, he had a little bit of a cold but nothing of concern at the time." His parents also noticed a non-blanching rash" on his body down to his feet, according to the .

READ MORE:

She added: "I checked for other symptoms such as temperature or sensitivity to light [and] headache, but none was present." Nicholas went to school as normal but Tracey insisted on taking him to the to have the unusual rash examined.

The doctor sent Nicholas to the Royal Blackburn Hospital for a blood test but the 11-year-old was heartbreakingly diagnosed with . Tracey called the shocking news the "most devastating diagnosis we could have imagined as parents".

She said: "Nicholas was equally devastated and very worried. His life at school, seeing friends, football had all just stopped in a matter of hours."

The mother added: "Being told your child at any age has cancer or any illness which requires intense hospital treatment is the most devastating diagnosis any parent can hear. We all as a family, including my parents, close family members and close friends are all still in a state of shock."

Nicholas was transferred to Children's Hospital to begin intensive treatment. Tracey revealed her son is expected to keep receiving treatment for the next two-and-a-half years.

She shared how difficult the terrifying diagnosis and process had been for her young boy. She said: "Nicholas is coping as well as can be expected for an 11-year-old. However, there have been lots of ups and downs as well as pain and fear.

"We know things will continue to be up and down but we are determined to help him fight this and get him back to playing football and having a normal life.

"Nicholas is the kindest most caring boy we've ever met and that anyone would meet. He is just a good and kind boy with an enormous heart that loves to play with his friends at the park on his scooter and to play football with them."