Community helps sick boy in Palomares

PEOPLE living in a small coastal town have pulled together as a community to help one of the town’s youngest residents.

Young Palomares boy, Leo, aged three, was originally diagnosed with, and treated in Spain for non-cancerous Teratoma Inmaduro. 

On seeking a second opinion, at Liverpool’s Alder Hey children’s hospital, the boy’s parents, Karen and Jorge, were devastated to learn that Leo in fact had a Primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) which was apparently growing by one centimetre each week.

Since the diagnosis, Leo has had numerous sessions of chemotherapy and has just undergone a stem cell transplant.

PNET is very rare and as few as 10 cases per year are diagnosed, the survival rate for children is as low as 20 per cent.

It is a difficult time for the family as Leo is continuing his treatment in the UK with his parents by his side while his sister Sophia is staying with her grandparents so she can attend school in Palomares.

Despite him being in the UK, Leo hasn’t been forgotten by the community, fund- raising events have been taking place with funds going to help support him and his family.

The children at the local primary school ran a race around the town collecting donations from local businesses and local bar Los Angeles put on a special dinner event with all proceeds going towards Leo’s cause.

Almost €4,000 has been raised by the events and Karen expressed her thanks to everyone who has supported the family.

Follow Leo’s story on Facebook/Leo the Lion’s fight for survival against PNET.