Defender pays a special visit to a local family whose nine-month-old son is battling a cancerous tumour
David Wheater paid a special visit to a local family on Wednesday morning to spread some festive cheer and support Key 103’s Mission Christmas Break In for 2016.
The Waring family of Bradshaw, consisting of parents Danny and Leanne and their four sons, Leo, Zakori, Joseph and baby Ted, have been dealt a devastating blow this year in regards to the health of their youngest child.
At just four-months-old, Ted began to lose weight, was constantly sick and refused his milk. After months of hospital admittances, visits and invasive tests, it was found that he has a large tumour behind his eyes and ears which has been diagnosed as cancerous.
Ted has already undergone numerous operations on his brain, while he has had a 'cath line' tube put into his heart which will help to administer chemotherapy.
He recently received emergency surgery as he was leaking brain fluid and has now had another operation on his brain to fit a shunt, a medical device that relieves pressure on the brain caused by a build-up of fluid.
It now seems however as though the nine-month-old is back on track to start his 70 weeks of chemotherapy with the family having to travel to and from Manchester Children’s Hospital, meaning that Danny and Leanne will be spending long periods away from home and their other children.
And on Wednesday morning, Key 103’s breakfast team made it a day to remember for the Warings as they turned their home into a festive winter wonderland, complete with gifts for the boys and all the food they could possibly need for Christmas.
Wheater meanwhile surprised the family and specifically their father Danny who is a long-standing Bolton supporter, with the defender turning up with Wanderers themed gifts, a signed shirt and mascot packages for the boys.
Speaking following the surprise, the 29-year-old said, “It was a real pleasure to meet the Waring family and to play a small part in putting a smile on their faces.
"Key 103 have done a brilliant job in getting everything sorted for the break-in, but it's great that as a club, we've been able to contribute a little bit too.
"As a parent myself, I can only imagine how hard life is for them right now - nobody should ever have to go through something like this, but for a baby to be suffering is just heartbreaking.”
He continued: "Especially around Christmas, family is everything and to be able to show them that they've got a lot of support around them is really rewarding.
"Their sons are a real credit to them too and I look forward to seeing them again when they come and be mascots at Macron Stadium.
"On behalf of all the lads though, I'd like to pass on my best wishes to the family and Ted in his treatment. It was a very humbling experience and one I won't forget."