FOR the past two years the family of a toddler suffering cancer have been struggling to cope while sharing a house with his grandmother.

Now aged five, Baran Akekca can only get around by ‘bum shuffling’ and has to be carried around the two-storey house by his father Vedat and mother, Annabel.

Finally this year they were told the welcome news that they had been granted a house of their own. But the family, who travelled to Bolton from Turkey in the hope of finding treatment for their child, had no means of turning the house in Georgina Court, Daubhill, into a home.

The floors were concrete and they had no furniture.

But that is when a charity run in memory of Bury disabled boy, Josh Wilson, stepped in to help.

The Superjosh charity, run by Josh’s mother, Dawn Fidler, provided the house with wooden floors perfect for Baran to get around, and kitted the family out with much needed furniture, donated by Loft Interiors.

Work to install the floors was carried out for free by Think Carpets.

Vedat and Annabel said they were ‘overcome with relief’. Annabel added: “It was such a huge relief to have the help because we’ve been so busy caring for Baran, and because we’ve had no income we’ve not been able to save to get money together to kit our house out. They have been a huge help, we’re so grateful.”

The family moved back to Annabel’s native Bolton after Baran received treatment for cancer in Turkey.

At 22 months old, Baran began limping and was extremely tired. He was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer that affects only 30 children each year worldwide.

His parents were told that even with treatment, his chance of survival was only ten per cent. He had emergency surgery to remove the tumour as well as chemotherapy and a stint of radiotherapy.

Two years ago scans revealed his cancer had returned and his parents were told he had only two months to live.

The family travelled to the UK for a second opinion. Baran had scans at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital which revealed his tumours had gone but previous treatment had caused lasting brain damage affecting his speech and balance.

Last year scans revealed three tumours had returned. Baran is now on trial drugs, which recent scans reveal have stopped the growth of two of the tumours, and shrunk the largest tumour.

During this time, Baran and his parents stayed with his grandmother in Bolton while they waited for some appropriate accommodation to become available.

The family struggled to make ends meet while caring for Baran, as visa delays meant that Baran’s father was unable to start work in the UK straightaway. The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity helps children and their families who have brain tumours and post surgery disabilities.

Joshua, also known as ‘Superjosh’ was told seven times in 11 months that he only had 48 hours to live. Josh died in 2014 aged 14.

Ms Fidler said: “It’s so important for them to have their own space to spend together as a family.

“People have been so generous.

“We also provide counselling and support as well, so we’ll keep in touch now and liaise with the family to see how they’re getting on with their journey.”