Sinead Gill10:22, May 03 2021
WARWICK SMITH/Stuff
Seth with his father Ben Maats among the bustle in the Manchester School hall which was packed with people looking for a bargain supporting the two year old.
Some were there for a bargain, but most of them were simply there for a little boy. Hundreds of people swarmed a market fundraiser at Manchester School on Saturday to support the family of toddler Seth Maats, who has a rare form of cancer. The two year old was diagnosed with wilms tumour in December, after his parents noticed a lump protruding from his stomach. The illness attacks the kidneys, and Seth has already had one removed.
In the weeks since chemotherapy ended, there have been more good days than bad for 2-year-old Seth. He has had chemotherapy to tackle a small tumour found on his second kidney, but his father, Ben Maats, said subsequent scans showed the treatment had little effect. “It hasn t grown or shrunk,” Ben said. “But the plan of attack is positive. They plan to save as much of the kidney as possible, but [they] can t put a percentage on it.” If enough of Seth’s kidney can be spared, he would avoid dialysis for hours a day. “We’re a bit nervous about it, but also focusing on the positives,” Ben said. “It’s not a death sentence. worst-case scenario he loses the kidney. Either way Monday is a new starting point for us.”
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