A TOT who has spent more than a year battling cancer is finally on the mend – but doesn’t understand why he can’t go outside to play.

Triplet Caleb Stirrat recently marked his fourth birthday alongside sisters Poppy and Alyssia.

And after reaching a weight low of 11kg, he was back up to 13kg in February and he had a good scan - something he’ll face regularly as his type of cancer is prone to recurring.

So Caleb and his sisters - with mum Karen and dad Andy - have to isolate for 12 weeks in their Parkhall home to protect him from the coronavirus.

“Caleb keeps asking if he’s sick again,” said Claire Smith, Karen’s aunt.

“His mum has tried to explain but the triplets are too young to understand and all keep asking if Caleb’s unwell again.

“And they are looking out the window saying, ‘we can’t see any germs mummy, so can we go out now?’ It’s heartbreaking.

“They spent so long unable to do things and go places and now they have to do it all again.

“But Karen and Andy are so grateful to even be here with their trio, as it was looking very uncertain if that would be the case only a year ago.”

Caleb was diagnosed with an ATRT (atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour), a rare and fast-growing tumour of the brain and spinal cord.

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Last year, Caleb went to Jacksonville, Florida, for three months of radical proton therapy before another round of chemo.

Last month he pulled his feeding tube out, so Karen and Andy are trying to get him back to eating normally. He still struggles with walking and he will need to rebuild his muscle, while his next oncology scan is due in May.

Karen told the Post the family was in the midst of 16 weeks in self-isolation.

As much as they’d like to, they can’t return to a normal life of visiting grandparents or going to the park or on holiday.

She said: “Whilst the country are all struggling, think of all the families who are in situations such as this or going through treatment and may not get to make memories.

“If these kids can do 16 weeks after spending a whole year doing this, then I’m sure the country can also do it for a few months.

“It’s such a worrying time for everyone and I’m sure most of us have felt angry or sorry for ourselves - we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t.

“One thing’s for sure, you definitely appreciate what you have.”

Claire has volunteered her nursing skills in Gibraltar for three months to fight the pandemic there.

She said: “I’m sad to be away from my family but feel they’re safer with me here. Plus it’s in our DNA as nurses to help.”