Hassocks three-year-old suffers aggressive rare cancer

Teddy Lichten, from Hassocks, has just turned three and become a big brother to Rupert when he began having fevers, tonsilitis and an ear infection.

He was lethargic and had a low appetite - but that wasn't unexpected given the infections.

Then on June 26 last year, Teddy told his parents Kat and Alistair that his sides hurt.

The Lichtens. From left baby Rupert, dad Alistair, Teddy and mum Kat (Image: Kat Lichten)

“The worst we thought it would be was appendicitis,” Kat told The Argus.

Teddy's dad Alastair took him to the hospital the next morning where he was admitted with suspected appendicitis but discharged the next day.

However, a few days later the pain came back and he was once again admitted after going to A&E.

After a few days he was still unwell but no source of infection was found so he had an ultrasound.  

Teddy then had blood tests and an MRI which revealed he had neuroblastoma, a rare type of cancer that mostly affects babies and young children.

• READ MORE: Sussex mum appears on ITV This Morning to raise awareness of child's cancer 

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Kat said: “To hear the words that your child has cancer. Everything completely changes and everything you thought you knew about your life is shattered.”

Neuroblastoma is very difficult to treat and returns in almost half of patients.

If this happens, fewer than one in ten survive.

Teddy has undergone months of gruelling treatment and been in and out of hospital throughout.

He is currently in recovery from a stem cell transplant.

Teddy was just three when he became ill (Image: Kat Lichten)

“Recovery takes weeks and is pretty rough. There is a high likelihood of infection,” Kat said.

“At the minute Alistair and I are taking it in turns to be with Teddy in hospital. We spend hours driving to and from the Royal Marsden in Sutton, and then we go to the Alex in Brighton if he suffers infections after returning home.”

After NHS treatment, Kat and Alistair hope to take Teddy to America for groundbreaking treatment which could save his life.

The treatment would be a vaccine which would help Teddy’s body fight off the cancer on its own.

This treatment could cost anywhere from £250,000 to £300,000, so Kat and Alistair are raising money to help them pay for it.

So far, they have raised more than £14,000 but will need much more to help Teddy.

Teddy has been in and out of hospital for months (Image: Kat Lichten)

Kat said: “It has just been relentless. We just want Teddy to be able to come home for good.”

Kat said she has been moved by how people have offered their help.

“A nine-year-old boy who has never met Teddy has been moved by his story, and is walking the Dyke Railway Trail to raise money," she added.

“If everyone reading this did the same, we would be well on our way to our target.”

Teddy has undergone gruelling treatment (Image: Kat Lichten)

• To donate to their fundraiser, you can click here https://www.solvingkidscancer.org.uk/donate/teddylichten.
• You can also donate by texting send “TEDDYL” followed by any whole amount up to £20 to 70085. This will cost your donation plus your standard network charge.