Rhys (27) and Leila (26) have three beautiful children together; Ava (8), Tommy (3) and Jude (4 months). Their wedding for October 2023 was booked and paid for late last year/early this year and shortly after in March they welcomed their third child into the world. Looking forward to the year ahead, they moved into their new home in May.

At the beginning of June, Rhys became ill with jaundice and spent a few days in hospital undergoing tests. A scan picked something up near the small intestine and a camera down his throat showed a mass. They took biopsies and this resulted in a devastating diagnosis of Ampullary Cancer.

Surgery was scheduled for 10th August at The Royal London Hospital for Whipple’s Procedure which is a very long operation, where the surgeon removes the head of the pancreas, most of the duodenum (a part of the small intestine), a portion of the bile duct and the gallbladder. In some cases, the surgeon may remove the body of the pancreas, the entire duodenum and a portion of the stomach.

The operation was successful although complications can arise after surgery. Doctors believe that Rhys has Lynch Syndrome as his father carried this mutating gene and passed away from bowel cancer a few years ago. Lynch Syndrome has a 50% chance of being passed down from parents to children and Leila and Rhys’ children now have the chance of carrying this gene.

Rhys needs time to recover and then have chemotherapy; and therefore, cannot work. Leila has mostly been on maternity leave due to having their baby four months ago, and now Leila will need to be Rhys’ full-time carer as the recovery is quite long and severe.

Please help this young family remove the burden of financial pressures during such a devastating time and donate whatever you are able.

They would be beyond grateful and appreciate your support so much.