Celebrated at Swansea Building Society Arena, Oliver made history on stage by becoming the youngest ever winner of a Child of Wales Award, a heartfelt recognition of his incredible bravery, bright determination, and infectious smile.
Before receiving his diagnosis, Oliver spent 18 months living with severe pain and light sensitivity that kept him from enjoying simple childhood moments. In December 2025, following surgery to remove his eye, Oliver was diagnosed with an extraordinarily rare adenocarcinoma. Specialists believe he is only the second child in the world known to have faced this condition.
Since then, Oliver has endured two major operations, 14 procedures under general anaesthetic, a serious bleed from his eye socket, and repeated journeys to Birmingham Children's Hospital. Today, Oliver lives with a prosthetic eye—affectionately known as his “magic eye”.
Despite everything he has faced, Oliver remains a happy, kind, and resilient little boy who loves nothing more than getting home to play with his sister, Ruby.
In Conversation with Mum, Freya: “He Was Just a Little Star”
Following the ceremony, Oliver’s mum, Freya, spoke with Latch about the award, the realities of life after diagnosis, and how Latch has stood by their side every step of the way.
Latch: What does winning the Child of Courage award mean to your family?
Freya: This award means more to our family than words can explain. Oliver has been through so much in his little four years, from countless hospital appointments, treatment, medication and having two big operations to remove his eye - Oliver now lives with a prosthetic eye (we call his magic eye). Receiving an incredibly rare cancer diagnosis in December 2025 turned our world upside down.
To see him recognised in this way means the absolute world to us. We are so incredibly proud of him, not just for what he has been through, but for the little boy he is. Despite everything, he still has his cheeky personality, his smile and a determination that amazes us every single day.
Although this award is such a special moment for us, Oliver’s journey is far from over. He now lives with a prosthetic eye, which requires ongoing care. Having it removed and put back in can be overwhelming for him, especially given everything he has already been through. He continues to undergo regular MRI scans and close monitoring, so there is still a lot of uncertainty that comes with our new normal. While we are so grateful for how far he has come, we are still navigating the challenges that come with his diagnosis every day.
This award is something we will treasure forever, and we hope it helps raise awareness of Oliver’s rare diagnosis and the challenges that children and families like ours face.
Latch: Oliver is the youngest ever Child of Wales Award winner. What does he think about it? Did he enjoy the ceremony?
Oliver is over the moon to win an award, he was so excited to get on the stage and he honestly was just a little star. He knows he has received something very special, and we’ve tried to explain to him just how amazing it is that he has been recognised in this way.
He absolutely loved being part of such a special evening, and seeing him there, being celebrated for everything he has been through, was incredibly emotional for us as parents. It’s not something you ever imagine happening when you receive news that turns your whole world upside down.
For us, it was a chance to stop for a moment and celebrate Oliver, rather than focus on hospital appointments, scans and the uncertainty that comes with his diagnosis. We hope that when he is older, he will look back at the photographs and memories and understand just how special he is and how many people have been cheering him on.
Latch: Latch supports families in a number of ways, and different families need different things from us. Can you tell us how Latch supported you?
Latch has been an incredible support to our family, in ways I don’t think I could ever fully put into words. Before Oliver’s diagnosis, I honestly had no idea just how much help and support was available from such amazing charities, and how much of a difference they could make to a family going through something so difficult.
The emotional support has been just as important as the practical support, not only for Oliver, but for myself and Ruby too. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family is affected, and it can be incredibly difficult to navigate everything that comes with it. Knowing that there is support there for all of us has meant so much.
Latch has also helped with liaising between Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Noah’s Ark, which has been a huge help for us as a family. Hayley has been an absolute star. Having someone there to help, offer support and make things feel a little less overwhelming has made such a difference during a time when there is already so much to deal with.
One of the most special things Latch has done for Oliver and Ruby was providing them with new bikes. For Oliver, this has been about so much more than just having a new bike. Since everything he has been through, seeing him find something that gives him purpose, builds his confidence and gives him something to work towards has been amazing. It has given him something positive to focus on, and watching his confidence grow has meant the world to us. It has been lovely to see Ruby included too, because she is such an important part of this journey and deserves those special moments just as much.
Latch also organises so many amazing events and opportunities for families, giving them the chance to make memories and enjoy time together despite everything they may be facing.
Before Oliver’s diagnosis, I never truly understood the amount of support charities like Latch provide or the difference they make behind the scenes. We have learnt so much along this journey, and we feel incredibly lucky to have people like Hayley and the wider Latch team supporting us.
We will always be grateful for everything Latch has done for our family. It is so much more than practical help; it is the emotional support, the understanding and the little things that bring happiness and confidence back into our children’s lives during some of the hardest times.
Latch: Is there anything that you’d like to say to Latch’s community? What do you think people should know?
I think the biggest thing I would want people to understand is that childhood cancer doesn’t end when a child comes home from hospital or goes back to school. From the outside, it might look like life has returned to normal, but for families like ours, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Oliver is only four years old, and he has already been through more than most people could ever imagine. His cancer diagnosis has changed his life forever, and although there is currently no evidence of disease recurrence, he still needs regular MRI scans and close monitoring. We live with the uncertainty of not knowing what the future holds, and that worry never truly goes away.
Living with a prosthetic eye brings its own challenges, too. It requires ongoing care, and having it removed and put back in can be overwhelming for Oliver. These are things he has to deal with every day, on top of everything he has already experienced.
Something else I feel strongly about raising awareness of is medical trauma. Oliver has been through countless operations, procedures and hospital appointments at such a young age, and we see the emotional impact of that every day. Things that might seem small to other people can be incredibly distressing for him because of what he has been through. Even positive experiences can bring anxiety and difficult memories to the surface. As his parents, it is heartbreaking to see him carry those experiences, and I think the emotional impact of childhood cancer deserves just as much recognition as the physical side.
I also think people need to remember the siblings. Ruby has been part of this journey too. While so much attention naturally goes to Oliver and his medical needs, her world has changed as well, and we want to make sure she feels supported and never forgotten.
When people see Oliver smiling, playing, riding his bike or going to school, I hope they understand that those moments don’t mean everything is okay or that the journey is over. We are so grateful that he can enjoy being a little boy, but behind those moments are the scans, the appointments, the worry and the lasting effects of everything he has been through.
To anyone supporting a family going through childhood cancer, please remember that your support is needed long after the initial diagnosis. Keep checking in, keep asking how the parents are coping, and remember the siblings, too. Sometimes the smallest gestures can make the biggest difference.
We are incredibly grateful to charities like LATCH and everyone who has supported us through this journey. They have helped us through some of the darkest times and reminded us that we aren’t alone.
Above all, Oliver is so much more than his diagnosis. He is a funny, cheeky, determined little boy who deserves to enjoy his childhood. We are so proud of him, and we will continue to share his story in the hope that other families feel less alone and that more people understand the reality of childhood cancer.
Because for us, this journey hasn’t ended. We are learning to live with a new normal, while continuing to hope for the best possible future for Oliver.
Oliver’s story is a moving reminder of the courage children show every day and why continuous, holistic support matters so deeply. Latch remains committed to standing beside children and their families across Wales offering practical aid, sibling inclusion, hospital liaison, and emotional care from diagnosis through recovery and beyond.
From eveeryone at Latch, huge congratulations to Oliver and his family and thank you again to Freya for sharing their story with us.
