Wrexham man with 'inoperable cancer' given second chance after operation 'miracle'

A man who was told he had inoperable cancer just days before the birth of his son has been given a ‘miraculous’ second chance after life-saving surgery.

Last year the outlook was bleak for Ceri Dawson from Coedpoeth, Wrexham, who feared he may never get to see Cai, now aged six months, grow up.

But today the 29-year-old found out specialists in Leeds have successfully managed to remove all traces of a rare cancer that had invaded his chest, neck and shoulder.

His wife Catrin, 27, said the news felt like “nothing less than a miracle”.

In September Ceri and Catrin were given the devastating news he had pleomorphic soft tissue sarcoma just days before Cai’s birth , as they prepared to celebrate their fourth anniversary.

The Christie Cancer Hospital in Manchester said it was inoperable and Ceri was started on exhausting chemotherapy.

But the couple asked for a second opinion and a team in Leeds said they could operate, offering a ray of hope.

He underwent surgery on April 6 and after a tense wait, the results have shown Ceri is now completely clear.

And he appears to have the full function of his arm and hand despite the procedure, which cut into his pectoral muscle and collar and breast bones, to get it out.

Catrin took to Facebook to thank everybody for their support “through some very dark days.”

She said: “We can’t express in words our gratitude for all the well wishes, support and generosity shown to us over the last eight months.

“After the devastating news we received back in September, and a very bleak prognosis just days before Cai was born, this news feels nothing less than a miracle.

“Along with the joy we’ve had from Cai coming into our lives, all your support has kept us going.”

Ceri’s devastating plight sparked a massive fundraising drive last year and encouraged his younger sibling, Ashley to take on a 182-mile trek to help rake in cash .

Saying they would be forever grateful to the Leeds doctors, she added; “I am so thankful to Cez for fighting this horrible disease with such strength and courage and being my hero.”

Speaking to the Daily Post after, Catrin said: “It’s fantastic news, but it still hasn’t sunk in.

“When we first got the news, the outlook was really bleak, we were told only 10% live for up to five years with his condition and he may not have lasted that long.

“But now we feel we have a second chance at life together and he can watch Cai grow up and see him do all the things little boys do.”

Ceri, who was about to fully qualify as a PE teacher and was also a play worker before he became sick, is waiting to recover fully before making a decision what to career to pursue in the future.

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