CHRISTMAS should be a time for children -- when families celebrate.

But for Whittle-le-Woods couple Janet and Andrew Davies, their Christmas means waiting and hoping as their sick toddler battles for his life.

Little Rhodri Davies, aged two, is suffering from a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma and at present has only a 20 per cent chance of survival.

Janet, who is expecting her second child in early January, said: "Neuroblastoma is a very rare cancer that starts in the adrenal glands. It affects children mostly under five.

"You don't pick up on the symptoms. He had his second birthday at the beginning of May and he was all right. A couple of days later he started being miserable.

"His tummy was a bit swollen, but then it grew. We went to the GP and he sent us to the hospital at Preston."

But the family weren't prepared for the shock when they were told he had neuroblastoma.

"My legs went from under me," said Janet. "I was eight weeks pregnant when we found out. We are still reeling.

"It's been an ordeal and will continue to be. He has got to be in remission for five years."

But brave little Rhodri is not giving up. He has undergone an operation to remove cancerous growth and has had chemotherapy.

"To see your own child suffering and then to see the other children on the ward -- you can't describe how it makes you feel. At times you think someone is going to wake you up," said Janet.

"He has carried on eating so the doctors say he has done remarkably well. He has been in hospital for six months on and off. Rhodri has coped fantastically -- he is a very happy child."

The family are now hoping to be reunited for Christmas, as Rhodri came out of isolation in hospital on Tuesday (December 5). And they should know by Christmas if Rhodri's cancer is in remission.

Janet praised blood donors who have supplied Rhodri's vital transfusions, and the medical staff who care for her son at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury.

She said: "The doctors at the hospital are so dedicated and really caring. They are brilliant and so are the nurses."

But she said there should be more financial help for hospitals and care centres. "The lack of funding and the fact that they are dependent on charity is so sad. It's tragic that they are not properly funded."

Rhodri's nursery -- Alexandra Kindergarten, Preston Road, Whittle-le-Woods -- is raising funds to help with a charity concert at Whittle and Clayton Parish Hall on Wednesday, December 13 at 7.30pm. The event features Blackburn and Darwen Brass Band, of which Rhodri's father is a member. For tickets phone 01257 275255.