AT Easter three years ago Cobie Booth was diagnosed with cancer.

And after having numerous operations, watching his hair fall out, losing the ability to eat and walk, five-year-old Cobie, of Skelmanthorpe, is finally coming to the end of his treatment.

During the Easter of 2009, Cobie’s parents Steph and Robert were told their little boy was suffering from leukaemia.

Steph said: “We had a family party on the Easter Sunday – Cobie had been playing out in the garden and he was fine but not eating a lot.

“The next day he started with a bit of a limp. Then I put him in the bath and he screamed.”

The doctor noticed he had a pin prick rash and following blood tests Cobie was diagnosed with leukaemia.

“It was the biggest shock we’ve ever had,” said mum-of-two Steph.

“We just heard it and thought he was going to die. We went straight to Sheffield and our consultant came and explained everything to us.

“Cobie was in theatre for a bone marrow test the next morning.

“They said he had leukaemia but they were treating him to get better – they are the words you want to hear really – and there’s a chance he’s going to be all right.

“In a week he had gone from a child who was well with a limp to a child who looked really poorly and his hair had started to fall out.

“He wouldn’t swallow his medicine and he started with anger issues. He was just terrified, it was horrible.

“He went on a dose of steroids and couldn’t walk or crawl and he didn’t want to eat or drink.”

After a few difficult weeks in hospital, things started looking up for Cobie.

Steph continued: “He started walking again and became a bit more like the Cobie we had before.

“Since then we’ve had all of his treatment as an outpatient just visiting the clinic for check-ups and for chemotherapy but he’s been fine and we had 18 months without even a night in the hospital.

“He started school 18 months ago and is doing really well – he’s full of energy and never stops smiling. He likes playing on the computer and playing out with his friends.

“He knows he’s got leukaemia but he doesn’t know how bad it can be. He doesn’t know some of his friends haven’t made it. I don’t want him thinking that.

“He can’t remember before the time he had chemotherapy so it’s normal for him but now all his sister Lillie’s ever known is coming in and out of hospital as well which is sad really.”

Cobie was given an 85% chance of a full recovery, which 40 years ago would have been nearer 35% – but when his treatment ends in June he will have a 95% chance of it not returning.

Steph said the family had coped by remaining positive and pulling together and she praised staff at The Children’s Hospital in Sheffield.

“I didn’t know anything at all about leukaemia until he was diagnosed but the staff have been absolutely fantastic and amazing and I wouldn’t have wanted him to go through it anywhere else,” she said.

Jeanette Payne, consultant paediatric haematologist for Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It can be very difficult when a family discover their child has leukaemia particularly when the child is too young to understand what’s happening.

“But we’re delighted we’ve been able to help Cobie get better in Sheffield – without our centre here to treat children for cancer they would have to travel a lot further to see specialists.

“After Cobie completes treatment he will be seen regularly in the clinic for check-ups.

“Finishing treatment can be a difficult time for families and we are very pleased to be able to continue to provide support for Cobie’s family.’’