Parents held brave tot Finley Hutchinson as he lost his battle with cancer

A BRAVE three-year-old died in the arms of his parents after losing his fight against a rare childhood cancer.

Finley Evan Hutchinson, known as Fin, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease on April 23.

After his parents Kieran and Michelle insisted on an MRI scan after noticing a lump in his right leg, doctors discovered a large tumour growing up Fin's spine affecting his nervous system.

Michelle, aged 35, said: "It was a very rare form of cancer and they only see around two cases a year.

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"I asked what his chances of survival were and he had a one in three chance."

The toddler endured a 32 week programme of chemotherapy.

Michelle, from Opal Road, Fenton, said: "Fin never complained about the treatment and he just got on with it.

"He was very strong-minded and opinionated for his age, but would go through with the treatment without questioning it.

"He had an old head on small shoulders and was very smart."

The couple, who both work as retail supervisors at Asda in Wolstanton, learnt to split their time between Fin and their two older sons, Camden, aged 13, and five-year-old Caleb.

Kieran, aged 35, said: "We would always make sure that one of us was with Fin at all times.

"He was a great character and that never changed, despite how ill he became. Fin had such a lust for life and that is what we will miss the most."

After a seven hour operation at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool on August 16 to remove the tumour, Fin appeared to be recovering.

Michelle said: "He had lost a third of his body weight, but his personality never changed. It was Fin's way or no way.

"We just thought because he had battled this far and was so strong, he would come through it."

But on October 3, three days after his latest treatment, Fin was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire with a high temperature, before moving back to Alder Hey.

Doctors found a fungal infection, and his organs were failing. They told the devastated couple it was now only a matter of time before Fin passed away.

Michelle said: "He was so tired the weekend before and I think he was telling us it was time to let him go."

The parents sat and held their youngest son on their knees as he slipped away.

"We told him how much we loved him and I could feel his heartbeat – it didn't get slower, it just got softer," Michelle said.

"We were relieved for Fin that it didn't end with drama or among strangers because he would have hated that. He had put up such a brave fight."

Tomorrow's funeral at 12.15pm at Stoke Minster will be a celebration of his life, with the congregation asked to wear bright colours. The family asked for donations to go to cancer charities including the Imagine Trust at Alder Hey and the Ronald McDonald House in Liverpool.

To pay your respects to Fin, email tributes@thesentinel.co.uk