A FAMILY had their world turned upside down after their 14-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer on Christmas Eve.

Harry Wilson was like any other student in December preparing to return to Furness Academy after the Christmas break.

However his schooling life was brought to an abrupt halt after a routine appendicitis operation revealed a much more sinister health issue.

A day before Christmas the Wilson family, who live in Parkside, was told Harry did not have appendicitis - but non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, a network of vessels and glands spread throughout your body.

In the UK, more than 13,000 people are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma each year.

Harry kept positive after receiving his shock cancer news and began an intensive course of chemotherapy at Manchester Children’s Hospital on January 2.

He said: “I felt alright. I think I took it better than other people. Straight away I thought it would get better and tried to keep as positive as I could.

“I’ve found chemo tiring. I do sleep a lot and it affects my eating and swallowing.”

The Mail: Harry WilsonHarry Wilson (Image: Submitted)

Harry’s dad Richard said the past few months have been ‘really difficult’ for the family.

The Kimberly Clark worker said: “This type of cancer can spread right round the body in the lymph nodes. Luckily with Harry it looks like it’s only in one area so he has a really good chance of survival.

“We became more positive after the first scans and realised it was fully treatable.

“It’s been really difficult. It affects your mental health. My work have been amazing, they have let me have time off to take on Harry.

“Harry’s been so positive – he’s been the least bothered out the whole family through all this."

Harry is currently undergoing his fourth – and hopefully final – round of chemotherapy, with hopes to finish his treatment and return to school after Easter.

“In hospital they’ve been doing some teaching while I’m in bed to try and catch me up to what I’ve missed,” he said.

“I really don’t want to fall behind.

“I want to be up to date when I’m hopefully able to return to school after Easter.”

Harry is excited to return back to his normal life after a turbulent three months.

He said: “It’s definitely made me more aware of my health but I won’t be scared; I think it’s made me fearless if anything.

“I just want to get back to my normal life now.”

The Mail: Richard Wilson with his son Harry at Manchester Children's HospitalRichard Wilson with his son Harry at Manchester Children's Hospital (Image: Submitted)

When family friend Jo Welsh heard about Harry’s cancer battle she was adamant on setting up a fundraiser for the young teen.

The Co-op worker set up a Just Giving page to help raise some funds for Harry – but the student was insistent on donating a portion to the cancer charity MacMillan which has supported the family over the last few months.

Harry’s dad Richard said: “We wanted to give back to them how we could. The charity has been so supportive and such a great help to the family.”

Jo has also set up a raffle to help raise funds for Harry and MacMillan. Contact her on Facebook if you can offer any prizes.

Donations can be made at the fundraising page here.