A Chatteris toddler, who spent time in a high dependency unit during gruelling cancer treatment, has had his courage recognised with a special award.

Cambs Times: Troy Thorpe from ChatterisTroy Thorpe from Chatteris (Image: Archant)

Two year old Troy Thorpe was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in September 2015 and is likely to need treatment until November 2018.

Now, he has received Cancer Research UK’s Kids and Teens Star Award, in partnership with TK Maxx.

Troy’s parents, Vicky and Gavin, who are both 34, and his sister Sophie, 14, nominated him.

His mum Vicky said: “Through all of his treatment - operations, needles, drugs, x-rays, ultrasounds - Troy has been so brave and continues to smile and be as happy as he can.

Cambs Times: Troy Thorpe from ChatterisTroy Thorpe from Chatteris (Image: Archant)

“Troy has been so strong through his chemotherapy and we’re so proud of how well he’s coping.

“Troy is one amazing little boy. He’s an inspiration.”

Troy’s cancer was revealed last year when he went off his food and started to tire easily.

His dad Gavin said: “Everything had been going really well. Me and Vicky had got engaged, we’d had a really good family holiday to Skegness and then this happened.

“Troy hadn’t been eating a lot but he seemed to go off his food altogether. He was tired and asking to go to bed. He was very white and started to be sick. “We took him to the doctors but were told it was an ear infection and prescribed antibiotics.

“We went back a week later and saw a different doctor, we were told to go straight to hospital. We asked later, why it was missed that first time and were told it’s uncommon and not many doctors would spot it.”

Troy had blood tests at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and went in an ambulance under blue lights to Addenbrookes.

Vicky said: “When Troy was diagnosed I was so shocked and heartbroken, I just couldn’t believe it was happening to him.

“It’s affected us all. Troy hasn’t started nursery as it’s too risky for him at the moment. I am constantly on edge and worrying in case he gets an infection and ends up in hospital again.

“Sophie goes to stay with her Nana when we have long stays in hospital with Troy. It’s very hard on her and us being separated but she has been so strong and coped with everything so well.”

At one stage Troy developed drug-induced pancreatitis and had to be transferred to a high dependency unit and also needed physiotherapy to encourage him to walk.

Gavin said: “We have to pump feed him to help him eat, sometimes he can only take small amounts and it can take up to six hours to give him enough food. Getting a two-year-old to sit still for that long isn’t easy.

“We have to give him his meds. One of them is toxic and we need to wear gloves just to handle it but we’re putting that in his tummy. You don’t feel good about doing that.

“He’s been through an awful lot but he carries on.”