Little Oliver had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away. His parents initially believed it was just a minor cold, but it turned out to be something far worse that would turn their world upside down

When two-year-old Oliver developed a 'little cough', his parents initially thought it was nothing serious.

Doctors said it was likely all he needed was some rest and time out of daycare, but two weeks later the family were told he had a tumour in his chest, along with leukaemia.

Oliver's dad, John Norris, 38, from Somerville, Melbourne, dismissed the cough as nothing more than a 'little cold' because his son didn't have a temperature.

A GP visit on June 5 ruled out Covid and RSV, and the advice was for Oliver just to get some rest.

A week later, with no sign of any improvement and with the boy struggling for breath, they returned to the GP.

'He was given antibiotics and we were told he had to rest up and not go to childcare,' Mr Norris said.

But the father became concerned when the cough only worsened and his boy became ever more lethargic.

'He just didn't seem to be getting better. I had a feeling something wasn't right. I just wanted a second opinion,' he said.

Following his instinct, John and his wife Melissa, 34, took Oliver to a different GP on June 14 who did say to take the child to hospital if his health deteriorated further.

The following night Oliver 'was not looking great' and by 5am he was struggling to breathe.

After rushing him to Frankston Hospital, an x-ray showed the toddler had a growth on his heart and lungs, and he was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, for a more sophisticated scan and clearer diagnosis.

'We were then told he had a tumour on his heart and lungs. It's why he couldn't breathe,' Mr Norris said.

He was also diagnosed with leukaemia. 

The father said the hardest thing was being delivered such bad news only within a space of a few hours.  

'We were trying to not think of the worst,' he said.

'We didn't want to ask questions because we didn't want to know the answers.

'All of these terms, and all the different doctors - a different doctor visiting every half an hour - and your kid is struggling to breathe and was a bit out of it. 

'It was just hard.'

Mr Norris said Oliver, who is the little brother to Mia, 9, and Charlie, 4, is known for his big smile, is 'always laughing' and is 'bubbly'.

'He loves dinosaurs, playing with cars and he loves making animal noises - he's a bit cheeky,' he said. 

Mr Norris said there were no warning signs or symptoms before Oliver started coughing in early June.

'We was not lethargic before he had the cough - he was healthy,' he said.

The father wanted to make it clear that he doesn't blame the GPs, because the condition is rare and 'they can't x-ray every child that comes in with a cough'.

Oliver now has to have steroids twice a day as well as chemotherapy twice a week.

The family has been told the two-year-old will need chemo for the next two and a half years.

'He just started losing his hair. My wife had a breakdown, she cried in front of the kids,' he said.

'When you start seeing the signs you know it's real. It's confronting.

'The steroids make him angry and he lashes out - but it is normal when taking steroids.

'But he's still got that smile. The hospital staff love him - they all say they love his smile.

'It is hard for a two-year-old to sit still for the chemo, but he's doing it.'

The father said Oliver picked up an infection while in hospital, which his body is struggling to fight due to having leukaemia.

'He was hot and shaking. It's a virus that he can't fight on his own so he has to wear a back-pack giving him antibiotics 24/7 for 14 days,' he said.

'It's hard to tell a two-year-old to not take it off - but he is keeping it on, he is doing so well and I am really proud of him for that.'

The couple were told by hospital staff that Oliver's treatment will be intense.

'They said the first six-months is full-on and one of us has to take time off work for six months - minimum,' Mr Norris said.

'It all depends if he is hitting goals.'

His wife Melissa, who is a permanent part-time worker at a Coles Express service station has had to put her job on hold, as well her side business.

'Melissa is exhausted, she is running on fumes. She has been amazing but it has been hard, especially also having our other two kids to look after. 

'Utility bills have gone up, food has gone up. You're home more, so you're using more,' he said.

'And we still have to pay for hospital parking and petrol on top of bills.'

A GoFundMe has been started to help the family pay for lost wages, bills and transport costs.