The family of a nine-year-old boy has been offered a glimmer of hope in its search for a cure for the terminal disease he has been battling for six years.

Ethan Fanneran-Burley, of Scott Avenue, Canterbury, was diagnosed with the rare disorder Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type 6 just before his third birthday.

He is under the lifetime care of Great Ormond Street Hospital, has had life-saving surgery on his spine and undergoes intravenous enzyme replacement therapy on a weekly basis.

It was previously believed MPS was incurable, but Ethan will travel to Italy at the beginning of October to see if he is eligible for a groundbreaking clinical trial in Naples.

His mother, Katrina Fanneran, said: “This is the stage where we go out there to talk to the team about what the trial entails, the risks associated with it and to get Ethan screened to see if he’s suitable for it.

“Four patients have been on the trial and the results so far have been really promising.

"They haven’t been cured yet because a larger dose hasn’t been administered.”

The aim of the trial is to uncover a treatment that allows MPS type 6 sufferers to produce the enzymes they are deficient in themselves.

As a result, Ethan’s mother and stepfather are hoping he will return next year from Italy as one of the "founders of a cure" for the disease.

“When he was diagnosed, I was told the average lifespan of a child with MPS is five to 10 years old; so it’s pretty incredible he’s doing so well,” she said.

“And in the same month as his 10th birthday, we’ll be flying out to Italy with the hope of actually finding a cure for him.

"I really would love to get the results before his birthday. It’d be life-changing. I can’t describe what it feels like to have this incredible hope at our fingertips.”

Even if the trial was to be successful, Ethan would still have to live with the damage MPS has done to his body.

It has affected a number of his major organs, including his liver and heart, as well as his back, neck, airways, eyes and ears.

His knees and wrists were operated on during the same procedure in 2014, he underwent major spine decompression surgery last year, and will have to go under the knife again in December.

“He’s gone through so much already; he’s resilient, strong and courageous,” Ms Fanneran continued.

“He’s had a tough battle with numerous surgeries. Every surgery he has is a huge risk to life because of the complications associated with the anaesthetic.

“Stunted growth is part of the condition but he’s growing again for the first time in a long time.”

If the tests in October are successful, Ethan will be invited back to Italy for a second round of screenings.

If he passes them he will spend about four months receiving the treatment in Naples in the New Year.

“It would require us living in Italy, so we will set up a GoFundMe page to help specifically with getting Ethan out there if it goes ahead,” Ms Fanneran said.

“We would also like to help any of the other families that are trying to get their children out there as well.”

A charity day was recently held at Chestfield Golf Club to raise money for the cause.

• To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/cureforethan