D-day looms for cancer stricken Chace

Little Chace Topperwien outside the Royal Marsden Hospital in England. Photo / Supplied

A 3-year-old battling cancer should find out next week whether he will be allowed to start a drug trial in the UK - or be sent home to New Zealand.

Whakatane couple Ryan and Keri Topperwien are in Britain, trying to persuade medics Chace is strong enough to take part in the trial, which could buy enough time for him to have a second stem cell transplant.

Through the Chace Topperwien Fundraising page on Facebook, the couple said doctors had all but given up on their son being well enough for the trial, to the point of organising flights back home for the family.

"But we told them, give him 24 hours and you'll see," the Topperwiens wrote. "Twenty-four hours passes and he's sitting up and saying to his nurse 'you need to put the cuff on this arm or otherwise it won't work' - our Mr Bossy is back."

According to Chace's grandfather Rod Topperwien, the youngster was doing much better yesterday.

"Chace's liver function, which was way out of acceptable levels for the trial on Tuesday, had come back to within the normal range," Mr Topperwien said.

Doctors are still discussing whether to put Chace on the trial and a decision is expected next week. If he's not well enough, he'll be returning to Whakatane when doctors believe he's strong enough for the flight.

"Everyday people are asking me how I am," Mr Topperwien said. "I'm just praying for the day I can say to them I'm doing great - and so is Chace."