Welcome home party for Telford five-year-old as he recovers from leukaemia

Dozens of family members and friends gathered to celebrate Liam Finazzi, as he returned home from treatment for the first time in 11 months.

Just days after his fifth birthday, last December, Liam Finazzi was diagnosed with Burkitt leukaemia, a rare and fast-growing form of the disease.

While undergoing chemotherapy treatment, and with a reduced immune system, he contracted encephalitis, which has left him brain damaged.

For 11 months, he and his family have been at hospital, first at Birmingham Children’s Hospital but were recently taken to a specialist centre to help Liam recover.

Liam is now nine months into remission from the cancer, now only needing monthly checks to make sure he stays leukaemia-free.

But he has been having special care at The Children’s Trust in Epsom, which helps children with brain injuries, where he has been undergoing various treatments like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy to help him with his recovery.

After being discharged from the centre in Surrey in October, a party was held at Cordingley Hall in Donnington to celebrate his return to Telford and the progress he is making.

Liam was joined by his nine-year-old brother Callum and parents Andy and Kerry.

Andy said: “Liam absolutely loved it, seeing lots of family, school friends, there were about 200 people there in the end and it was really nice to get together and celebrate how far Liam has come.

“Everyone has been so supportive, our family and friends but also complete strangers.

“There have been some really dark days during Liam’s journey, but it is people’s love and kindness that has kept us going.”

His family had to give up their jobs to care for him while he undergoes intensive treatment, and had been by his side since he was diagnosed.

Andy is now going to be Liam’s full-time carer, while Kerry is set to return to her job at CapGemini in the coming weeks.

The family have now moved from their home in Malinslee to one in Much Wenlock which is more suitable for Liam’s needs and he will soon be starting at The Bridge School in Hadley.

Andy added: “He had some school lessons while we were in Surrey and he really enjoyed them so we’re very keen for him to get started and get back to a bit of normality.”

Andy also praised older son Callum, for the way he has coped with Liam’s treatment.

He said: “Callum has done really well, he has coped with it so well. Not many children his age could deal with what he has and still be so supportive of his brother.”

Throughout Liam’s treatment, his family have been updating people on his progress under the tag line of Team Liam, which has taken on the penguin, Liam’s favourite animal, as its symbol.

And family and friends also raised thousands of pounds to help support him through his treatment.

But the family will only get one physiotherapy session per week on the NHS to help with his further recovery, so the party was a chance to raise some extra money which will support further private sessions to help him come even further.

Andy added: “Physiotherapists have told us that the extent of his brain damage means that the recovery is going to be quite a long-term thing.

“We’ve been told there is no ‘quick’ fix for his recovery, it isn’t going to happen overnight, it is going to be a long process.

“We are absolutely focussed on that.

“In the short time we have been home, he has made some real progress, he is holding his head more and us able to use his voice more.

“They are good signs that do help you to feel a bit more hopeful.”

In total, the party raised £1,393 from raffle ticket sales, a name the bear and donations.

This will pay for 16 therapy sessions for Liam, one physiotherapy and one speech and language therapy session a week for 8 weeks.

A Facebook page has been set up to share updates on Liam’s progress. Visit facebook.com/Liam-Finazzi-My-Battle-Against-Burkitt-Leukemia-737124116446702.

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/liams-recovery