'I knew something was wrong' Mum's post goes viral after her son's sore throat turned out to be cancer

A mum's post has gone viral on social media after she shared how her son's sore throat turned out to be cancer.

Josie Barron, from Bristol, shared her story on Facebook, after her four-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia.

Writing on Facebook, she explained: '10 days ago Dexter was sent home from school with a sore throat. The next morning, while he still slept, something made me go and check on him, turning on the lights and pulling back the cover. I found him covered in a rash and an ambulance was sent. At the hospital wires were attached, antibiotics given and blood taken.

https://www.facebook.com/mummysocial/posts/1310885995680113

'Then the consultant received a phone call, "You need to get his Dad to fly home now". At this moment I knew something was seriously wrong.

'And within a couple of hours of arriving I was taken into a room where I was told our darling boy has Leukeamia.'

The mum then goes on say that Dexter has started to get treatment, and that despite the sad and scary news, they are 'extremely lucky' for his 90 per cent chance of success.

'We stayed in hospital for 2 nights while Dex was given blood transfusions to get him strong enough to be taken to Bristol Children's Hospital which is where I'm writing this post from. A post I wish I wasn't writing.

'I don't want to see my boy's name on the white board in the ward for children with cancer. I don't want to have witnessed my boy's blood curdling screams while emergency procedures had to be done. I don't want to be signing consent forms for bone marrow to be taken and drugs to be administered.

'I want to be back in our lovely home with both his sisters, in our blissfully happy bubble that I didn't even realise was so happy until now. But we are here. This is now our story and I know in many ways we are extremely lucky. We have a 90% chance of taking our boy home fit and well after the treatment is complete.

'We are on a well trodden road, albeit slightly messy and rather long. There are children and families on this ward who are in far worse positions than us. So I am looking on the positive side, gritting my teeth, taking it one hour at a time, and being the cheeriest, silliest mum I can be!'

The post, in which Josie also praised the NHS for their 'amazing' work and gave thanks to everyone who donates blood, has clearly struck a chord with many others who commented, shared and liked it in the thousands.

One mum said: ' My daughter had leukaemia when she was 8 years old and we are so thankful for all the blood transfusions she had during that time , she is now 27 years old. Just thought I would share a positive story'.

Others wrote to say that Josie's post inspired them to donate blood: 'Your post has just made me get off my bottom and register to donate blood. Wish your boy a quick recovery and sending you and your family all the strength and love in the world x'.