Rowan Pethard: Seven-year-old's leukaemia treatment postponed by virus

The avid Spurs fan has to make do with playing Fifa 16 on the PlayStation against his 10-year-old brother

When Spurs heard of his plight, they invited Rowan to White Hart Lane and arranged for midfielder Harry Winks to visit him at home

Rowan Pethard was meant to be starting his “maintenance chemotherapy” this week, a sign that the intensive treatment for his leukaemia was coming to an end and the next two years of his treatment would take less of a toll on his tiny frame.

Instead, he is at home on the sofa battling a stubborn virus. He is on a high dose of antibiotics, with the hope that he can return to GOSH next week to carry out the rest of his treatment as planned.

Rowan, seven, whose progress The Independent is following as part of the Give to GOSH appeal, went home to Hemel Hempstead in April after emergency chemotherapy at GOSH. This treatment has left him tired and unable to lift his foot, so the avid Spurs fan has to make do with playing Fifa 16 on PlayStation against his 10-year-old brother, Corey.

When his club found out about Rowan’s plight and the amount of time he has spent at GOSH over the past two years, it invited him for a tour of White Hart Lane and arranged for midfielder Harry Winks to visit him at home. Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “We were extremely sorry to hear of Rowan’s situation and everyone at the club sends their best wishes. We hope he is managing to keep his spirits up and that he gets well soon.”

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