Ashleigh Wheatley and Ross O’Neill have been forced to leave their two daughters with family, in order to keep little Tyde within five minutes of Randwick children’s hospital.

After a gruelling first round of chemotherapy, the two-and-a-half year old will this week be back in hospital for the second round of treatment.

If Tyde doesn’t respond well he could then require a bone marrow transplant, however if that is the case a match has already been found.

‘’We were told that his chances of finding a match were not good, but fortunately his five-year-old sister Tylah is a match,’’ Ms Wheatley said.

‘’Though we are hoping that he will not need to have that – he’s been through so much already.

‘’He’s a tough boy – that’s why I’ve started the Tuff Tyde Facebook page – and some days he’s a happy little kid, but other times he has a sad look on his face which just breaks our heart.’’

It’s been a traumatic 12 months for the family, after Mr O’Neill suffered a broken back and shattered hand in a workplace accident last year.

His limited income and medical bills had already left the family cash-strapped, and now they have to deal with the financial – and emotional – costs of Tyde’s shock diagnosis.

‘’Tyde was sent home from his preschool with a high temperature in late March,’’ Ms Wheatley said. ‘’I took him to the doctor who did a blood test as a precaution. Two hours later I got the call to inform me he had leukaemia.

‘’We rushed him to Wollongong Hospital and he was then transferred to Randwick. It’s been several weeks now and I still can’t come to terms with the diagnosis.’’

Ms Wheatley said she’d been overwhelmed by the support from family and friends, and community members, who have held fundraisers and even started an online fundraiser.

‘’Everyone has come together to help us and we can’t thank them enough,’’ she said. ‘’It’s allowing us to be able to keep our focus on Tyde.

‘’We wouldn’t be able to carry on without everyone’s support – it’s that emotional support that is so important too.’’

On May 21, friends have organised a barefoot bowls day at Figtree Bowling Club to help raise more funds for the family’s medical and travel expenses.

They hope people will join them on the day, or that local businesses may be able to provide products or services to raffle on the day. For details visit the Fight for Tyde Facebook page.