A family is desperate to try experimental treatment in America to save their seven-year-old son after running out of options in England.

Ammaar Dadlani, a very cheeky extrovert 7-year-old who grew up in Croxley Green before a recent move, had a rough last 16-months since his diagnosis with a rare bone cancer in June 2018.

The discovery of the cancer was a shock to the entire family, as they only found out about it after Ammaar fell during his grandparent’s anniversary and injured his knee.

His parents said he “was in excruciating pain” the days after, so he was rushed to Mount Vernon Hospital in Hillingdon to get an x-ray scan, when doctors detected a 9.6cm tumour in his left leg and was later found with a high grade osteoblastic osteosarcoma.

Ammaar, the youngest of the family, has been scarred for life after 17cm of infected bone was removed from his leg and replaced with a metal ‘bone’.

As a result, he was at first wheelchair bound and now struggling to straighten his leg.

Watford Observer:

Ammaar and his brothers at the Watford General Hospital Christmas Party held at Vicarage Road.

After 18 stages of chemotherapy, the family celebrated the news in February 2019 that Ammaar was cleared from cancer – this excitement was however short lived when his mother Naheed spotted a small lump on his collarbone a few months later.

Mrs Dadlani said: “Cancer is like a dandelion, just touch it and it spreads.

“I think the doctors didn’t take the lump seriously, they said it was unlikely to return.

“The UK and NHS have been fabulous for first line treatment, but what we lack behind from the US is trial clinical therapies.”

Further operations had to be made, with his right collarbone surgically removed on September 2019 and another tumour also removed.

Unfortunately, doctors then discovered several other tumours across his body.

Watford Observer:

Ammaar will have to go to America to receive experimental treatment.

Mrs Dadlani added: “The doctors told me they cannot operate again, as it would be a very morbid experience for Ammaar.”

A change of plan was desperately needed for the family to save Ammaar, and the parents were pleased to hear from another parent in a similar situation, that there is an experimental trial in the USA which could be of help.

The family with three children, who moved from Croxley Green to Northwood three years ago, will have to travel to America and pay $450,000 for the phase one CAR-T cell immunotherapy.

Due to the high expense of the surgery, the family started a GoFundMe page around the Christmas period, which has seen incredible support from family, friends and others concerned.

The Dadlani family believe Ammaar is responding well to his current chemotherapy sessions and hope to try the experimental treatment around April.

Watford Observer:

Ammaar with his parents and two brothers at University College Hospital.

His mother said: “If you look at him, you wouldn’t think he has anything going on in his body, of course except for the hair and his disability, but he acts like nothing has happened.

“He has a fighting will to live.

“He wasn’t as bad as we thought he would be without his hair. Of course, you don’t see kids often with cancer and wheelchair bound at his age, so when we took him to Morrisons and a kid asked what was wrong with him, he just replied ‘cancer’ and takes it in his stride.

“It’s a very positive outlook to life. He generally doesn’t dwell on it.”

Mrs Dadlani added that his optimism is “encouraging” and quoted her husband, who told her that if Ammaar has not given up, then why should they.

To donate and help Ammaar receive this this experimental treatment, visit here.