I will do eveything possible to try and save my teenager's foot

Slav Vavro was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of soft-tissue cancer that had spread to his bones, in 2018.

Now a tumour has re-emerged on the base of his foot, where the cancer originally appeared.

Mum Nadia has launched a fundraising campaign to bring Slav to a hospital in Vienna that specialises in cases like his. As well as removing the tumour, they will carry out reconstruction that his family feel would greatly improve his quality of life.

The hospital was recommended by an oncology doctor in their native Slovakia. Nadia and husband Vladimir originally came from Slovakia before moving to Ireland in 2006, where they put down roots and started a family. They now live in Co Meath.

Slav faced the possibility of having part of his leg amputated if surgery carried out here was not successful.

"This form of surgery gives him the best possible type of outcome for the future and the hospital in Vienna has accepted Slav," said Nadia.

"I am going to do everything possible. Me and my husband Vlad will do anything we can.

"This doesn't usually have a very good prognosis but in spite of this he's beating the odds so far, and we have to do everything we can."

Chemotherapy

The family has renewed hope that the specialised surgery will save the teenager's foot.

"It's a wide resection," she explained. "They will remove the tumour with wide and clear margins and remove the old scar.

"They have to do a reconstruction of the soft tissue. They will cover it with a skin graft. It could have a really positive impact on the movement of his foot in the future." Slav, who is now 15, was diagnosed with the rare form on cancer in early 2018 and underwent surgery followed by several rounds of chemotherapy.

Despite some very difficult and challenging times, the family has never given up hope that Slav will make a full recovery from the disease.

The family has already booked flights to Vienna for the surgery, which will take place towards the end of October.

Slav is expected to be in hospital for four days and they must remain in the city for another few days until it is safe for him to fly home.

Nadia has been greatly heartened by the support she has received since launching a Go Fund Me account last weekend.

They also successfully secured an oxygen chamber for Slav through a similar fundraiser over a year ago.

Parents Nadia and Vladimir and Slav's older brother, also named Vladimir, have seen first-hand how the high-intensity chamber benefits their son in healing the multiple compression fractures he has as a result of his disease.

While researching his condition, they discovered that breathing pure oxygen in a pressurised space leads to the blood carrying more oxygen around the body, promoting healing - in Slav's case in his damaged bones.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was developed for decompression sickness in divers but is now used for other medical conditions.

The Co Meath teenager was a fit and active teenager who played GAA and enjoyed several hobbies before being diagnosed with the disease in 2018.

"Slav used to be a very active child. He was playing in a GAA club, he was active in scouts, he was doing swimming classes, he's very good with chess," said Nadia.

She added that he's recently taken up jogging which he really enjoys and wants to be able to continue.

Nadia says the family is very grateful for all of the support for Slav, especially in their community in Bettystown and online.

Treatment

"They have been very helpful. Star of the Sea athletic club have been very supportive and there are neighbours who have helped Slav. It's amazing, people are very supportive and we really appreciate it. Still it's a very lonely and difficult journey as well.

"The Sarcoma Action Support Group have been really great online too. They are raising awareness of sarcoma in Ireland."

Nadia says Slav has persevered throughout the last couple of years and will likely need further treatment following the surgery.

"He's 15. It's not easy for him. He has a couple of great friends who are very good and supportive. And he has his older brother Vlav, who is 18, and they are great friends.

"He completed chemotherapy in July 2018. It was very hard, looking back now I can see how difficult it was for him. He was very unwell for weeks but especially for three days after getting the chemotherapy. It takes many days to recover and then you are almost ready for another round of chemotherapy."

She says the response to her fundraising appeal has been heartening, with extended family, friends and strangers making contact.

For more about Slav's story and fundraising activity, search for 'lifesaving surgery for Slav' on gofundme.com

scouts, he was doing swimming classes, he's very good with chess." She added that he's recently taken up jogging which he really enjoys and wants to be able to continue.

Nadia says the family is very grateful for all of the support for Slav, especially in their community in Bettystown and online.

"They have been very helpful. Star of the Sea athletic club have been very supportive and there are neighbours who have helped Slav. It's amazing, people are very supportive and we really appreciate it. Still it's a very lonely and difficult journey as well.

"The Sarcoma Action Support Group have been really great online too. They are raising awareness of sarcoma in Ireland."

Nadia says that Slav has persevered throughout the last couple of years and will likely need further treatment following the surgery.

"He's 15. It's not easy for him. He has a couple of great friends who are very good and supportive. And he has his older brother Vlav, who is eighteen, and they are great friends.

"He completed chemotherapy in July 2018.

"It was very hard, looking back now I can see how difficult it was for him. He was very unwell for weeks but especially for three days after getting the chemotherapy.

"It takes many days to recover and then you are almost ready for another round of chemotherapy."

She says the response to her fundraising appeal has been heartening, with extended family, friends and strangers making contact.

"It has helped keep them going through a very difficult couple of years.

For more about Slav's story and fundraising activity, log on to www.gofundme.com and search under "lifesaving surgery for Slav".

• https://ie.gofundme.com/f/lifesaving-surgery-for-slav