'The best news of 2020' - Sunderland mum's joy as four-year-old son gets all-clear from cancer

It was smiles all round for four-year-old Joseph Archer and his family as the Sunderland youngster got to ring the bell at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), signifying the end of his gruelling treatment and celebrating being given the all-clear by doctors.

Mum Beckie, of Plains Farm, said she and her family are now planning to spend some much-needed quality time together and look forward to Christmas after being separated due to Joseph’s time in hospital.

She told the Echo: “I absolutely felt like a massive weight had just lifted off my shoulders and I can actually think about the future; before I felt like it was too good to be true.

"I still can’t believe it.”

Joseph – who experienced his first day of school with a teacher in hospital last week – began a round of intensive chemotherapy earlier this year as doctors found new tumours in his lungs just days after he finished his then-treatment regime.

Since then, he has endured four different kinds of chemotherapy and contracted sepsis six times; but his incredible strength and cheeky personality have brought him through to the other side.

After being given the all clear at the RVI on Monday, October 5, he returned home to mum Beckie, 26, eight-year-old sister Amy, and nanna Maria, 60, at the end of last week.

Already, ‘little miracle’ Joseph is putting on weight, running around the house with his sister and looking forward to his hair growing back.

As he left hospital, the mum-of-two said staff hailed the youngster’s recovery as ‘the best news of 2020’.

Beckie added: “Before I couldn't even think about the next day when we were going this, but now there are things to look forward to.”

The Sunderland community rallied around Joseph and his family earlier in 2020 when a playhouse, intended as a gift for his birthday, was stolen from their garden.

And as news of Joseph’s further treatment broke, the Echo was inundated with messages of support for the little fighter.

"I want to thank everyone for all of the lovely messages and comments – it’s literally kept us going,” Beckie added.

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