Liam and his wife Shay live in Nottingham with their two children, Noah (7) and Harper (3). Originally from South Africa, the family moved to the UK four years ago after previously living in Hong Kong.
“Noah is full of beans,” says Liam. “He’s very active, has a bubbly personality and is very cheeky. He loves football, Lego and anything adventurous.”
In December 2023, Noah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after experiencing severe leg pain and a worsening limp over several weeks.
“It was initially suspected to be osteomyelitis,” Liam explains. “However, a bone biopsy showed it was in fact leukaemia.”
Noah then began treatment, which Liam describes as “an extremely challenging journey” for the whole family.
“There were numerous difficult days, hospital visits and a lot of emotional ups and downs,” he says.
Alongside managing Noah’s treatment and hospital appointments, Liam and Shay were also trying to maintain some normality for family life and care for Noah’s younger sister, Harper.
“One of the biggest challenges has been the emotional strain,” Liam says. “Watching your child go through something so tough is incredibly difficult, knowing you don’t have control over it. Balancing day-to-day life with medical appointments whilst still trying to make things at home as normal as possible also had its challenges.”
Throughout treatment, the family received support from Pasic in a number of ways.
"Pasic were absolutely incredible for us. They were always there offering support in the form of conversation, financial support with grocery vouchers, or fun times through family events. We felt their genuine care and it made such an impact on us.”
The counselling support offered through Pasic was also particularly valuable for Noah’s parents during treatment.
“Making counselling available was so important as it gave us, the parents, the support needed during treatment,” Liam says.
The family also enjoyed taking part in Pasic events, with Disney on Ice and the Santa Steam Train standing out as memorable times for Noah and Harper.
“The children loved the experiences and still talk about them,” says Liam.
In January 2026, Noah rang the bell to mark the end of his treatment.
“He’s doing well,” Liam says. “He’s attending school regularly and thriving being around friends and in the classroom. He is back playing sport and loving his new ‘normal’ life.”
In April 2026, Liam took on the London Marathon in support of Pasic, raising more than £3,000.
“We just can’t thank you enough. We love supporting your charity as we know just how supportive and helpful it is during such a challenging period.”
When asked what advice he would give to other families going through a similar experience, Liam says:
“Take it day by day. There are going to be good days, and obviously many difficult days. Control what is controllable – don’t waste your energy on needless things because your child will need you to have that energy.”
