An appeal has raised over £3,000 for a Llanrhystud family left “shell shocked” after their one-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

Tabitha Skalka, who is 16 months old, was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a very rare cancer that usually affects children less than four years of age, on 13 October 2021.

Ren Skalka, Tabitha’s parent, said: “We discovered she had cancer after she had been ill for a couple of weeks. We thought she had constipation and got some medicine for her, but it didn’t help much.

“Then on Monday she was bad again and started throwing up. She had a lump on her abdomen that was really pronounced.

“The GP at Tan y Fron sent her straight to Bronglais and they discovered a lump on her liver and she was transferred to Cardiff. My wife, Kate Ellen, went with her and I stayed behind with Phineas, our eldest.”

After a few days in Cardiff, Tabitha was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma. Ren said she had to be sedated for “various procedures” and has a Hickman line that will remain there for the duration of her chemo treatment. Tabitha also has to have her heart checked and will continue to do so until she’s an adult. Depending on how the chemo treatment goes, she may have to have a liver transplant.

“She hates the line, and the tumour effects how she walks, as well as not being her usual self,” Ren added, “she’s only recently been the cheeky little monkey we know, laughing and climbing a bit more.

“We’re still a bit shell shocked from the diagnosis, as it just never occurred to us that she could have cancer.

“We face journeys to Cardiff every couple of weeks for chemo for two days, which means our family is split up.

“My eldest is struggling with missing one of their parents depending on who’s with Tabby. We’re facing multiple hospital visits, we can’t really use public transport now so we’re facing having our Christmas plans disrupted.”

A fundraising appeal was launched to financially support the family, who cannot use public transport and do not drive, particularly as the diagnosis has affected Ren’s ability to work. So far the fundraising page has managed to £3,503, after starting with a target of just £250.

Ren continued: “Tabitha is such a little thing, and already she’s had a bit of a rough start being a lockdown baby and having feeding issues when she was first born.

“We’re still trying to figure out how to adjust to all the changes, the trips, the logistics of it all, as well as the emotional fall out of having a sick toddler.

“The support from people, from friends and family both here, online and in America, where my wife’s family is, has been amazing throughout. The Latch Wales charity have been amazing too.”

Donate to the fundraising effort

So far a fundraising effort, to “help with petrol and possible hotel stays if hospital accommodation is not available”, has managed to raise an amazing £3,503.

If you would like to donate to Tabitha and her family, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sian-williams-36