More than £6,000 raised for Portsmouth couple after they are told baby son has terminal cancer

Jacob Goodall, now 11 weeks old, has an extremely rare form of cancer called an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (AT/RT).

His parents, Kate and Andy Goodall, found out when he was just six weeks old and he had a six-hour operation that removed most of the tumour.

But they have been warned that the cancerous cells will grow back.

Kate, 37, from New Road in North End, Portsmouth, said: ‘I was heartbroken and devastated. Our world just fell apart.

‘Everything went from 0 to 100 in a nanosecond.

‘I had never heard of a newborn with cancer, particularly a brain tumour.’

The couple, who got engaged in April, decided to get married so that Jacob would share his surname with both of his parents.

Kate explained: ‘If we were going to lose him, I didn’t want him dying with a different name to me.’

The pair tied the knot last month, just a few days after Jacob was diagnosed, after getting a special waiver to allow them to marry quickly.

Now friends and relations are raising money for the Goodalls as they try to spend precious time together as a family after Jacob was allowed home from hospital.

Kate was made redundant in December last year and Andy, 38, is a self-employed plumber.

Kate said: ‘We want to be together as much as possible, but if Andy isn’t working, there’s no money coming in.’

Her cousin decided to set up a fundraising web page and so far more than £6,000 has been donated.

Kate said: ‘We weren’t happy with the idea – we have pride and we’ve worked all our lives. But common sense prevailed and we realised we needed help.

‘There are so many people who want to be able to help, but don’t know what to do. This gives them something they can do.’

She added: ‘We’ve had quite a few anonymous donations. It has blown us away.

‘It has given us a lifeline. The main thing is having the time together without having to worry about it.’

‘It’s been incredible. I can’t thank people enough for how they have supported us.’

To make a donation, please visit gofundme.com/keepfightingjacob