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Parents of Aaron
Lindridge thank supporters

by Julia Roberts

The parents of Aaron
Lindridge, who is suffering from a rare cancer, are facing the
agonising decision of whether to put their son through surgery that
could leave him having difficulty fathering children.

An operation to remove the tumour –
by cutting the two-year-old’s ureter and then fitting a urine
collection bag – has been booked for four weeks’ time.

Aaron, his mum Tracy and dad Mark
were due to meet with doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital today
to discuss the procedure, and for Aaron to have an exploratory
operation to see whether the tumour is attached to his bladder.

Consultants at the Royal Marsden
Hospital, who are overseeing Aaron’s treatment, are concerned the
cancer could also be affecting his pelvic bone.

Whether Aaron has the surgery or
not, he will still need vital radiotherapy in the US.

Tracy and Mark were told of the
operation’s implications as their son underwent his fourth round of
chemotherapy last week.

"It’s been a really bad time for
us," said Tracy from the family home in Taunton Road, Northfleet.
"If he has the operation Aaron will need a bag for the next two to
three years and it will make him impotent.

"Doctors can harvest the sperm and
do reconstructive surgery on the ureter but they would have to make
sure all the tumour has gone before they did that.

"It means Aaron will probably start
school with the bag. His teachers would have to know how to empty
it for him and then I worry what other children might say.

"It’s also about the effects in the
future. We wonder whether Aaron will resent us if we decide to go
ahead with the surgery and he can’t have children."

Two-year-old Aaron with
parents Tracy and Mark Lindridge

Generous donations since the
Messenger highlighted Aaron’s plight have led to an amazing £3,000
banked, and money continues to roll in.

Aaron’s sister Emily, seven, and
her friends at Riverview Infants, Gravesend, made a daisy chain of
cards decorated with flowers to drape around the school hall, with
parents donating £311.

A Teddy Tombola held at Cascades
Leisure Centre, Gravesend, found new homes for donated cuddly bears
and raised a further £160 for Aaron’s appeal.

Tracy, 34, and Mark, 44, have
decided that once Aaron is out of remission, any money remaining
will be shared between the Royal Marsden, the EllenorLions Hospices
children’s and young people service, chYps, and children’s cancer
charity CLIC Sargent.

But many of those organising
fundraising believe they should use the money to enjoy a
much-needed holiday in Florida.

Mum-of-four Clare Knowles, who set
up Aaron’s American Adventure Facebook page, said: "It wasn’t set
up to fund his treatment but to help a family going through what
they are going through.

"This is a journey for Aaron and
going to Disneyland with his family would be the perfect
ending."