Michael Sigwaza, five years old, first became sick last year but his parents thought it was just something that could be treated at home. When they took Michael to the doctors, they were told that it was just constipation. When they moved, and changed their primary care, the little boy’s diagnosis was changed to terminal stage 4 bowel cancer, SWNS reports.
Michael’s pain continued to increase even though he was kept on being prescribed with laxatives. When they changed doctors, they discovered that it was actually cancer—five months after Michael first felt the pain.
Michael started chemotherapy, but doctor told the family after a month that treatment would be futile since the cancer has reached the fourth stage.
A fundraising campaign was created in order to help Michael and his family with covering the medical bills. So far, they’ve already raised more than $15,000 in just a few days.
Ernest wrote on the page: “Sadly, on 29 March 2017 we were informed by the medical team that the cancer is now stage 4 and has spread and that they have no further treatment options available as chemotherapy is not working. In other words, our dear child’s illness is terminal and therefore he will be discharged home for palliative care.
“This is very heartbreaking and distressing for us as parents and we are struggling to come to terms with this. We don’t know how long Michael has left with us but we have been told that his prognosis is now measurable in short weeks to a few months. As parents, also expecting Michael’s unborn sister at the end of May, we are now forced to make difficult choices.
“Unfortunately, without help I will have no other choice but to continue working under these difficult circumstances so as to meet my family financial commitments as well as prepare for the arrival of our second born. We are deeply saddened to imagine that we don’t have much time left with our dear son. Our commitment and wish, as his loving parents, is to spend every second as a family.
“It is obvious to us that it is also Michael’s wish because just leaving the hospital room to take a call, he cries out for us to return. My dilemma is I’m in a situation where I cannot care for Michael, support my wife as well as prepare for the arrival of our second born and sustain a job at the same time.
“Your financial support will help me to take a break from work to care for Michael and also support my wife. It will also help us to make Michael’s days to be filled with happiness despite the illness limitations by taking him to treasured places like Legoland if his condition allows.”
A spokesperson for the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust said, “We are very concerned to hear about Michael’s illness. We have not heard from his family directly, but urge them to contact us so that we can speak directly to them.”
