A Welsh toddler diagnosed with brain cancer after his vomiting was initially dismissed as a sickness bug must now travel 1,100 miles to Latvia for life-saving treatment unavailable in the UK. Dominic Rockcliffe, now three, was six months old when his mother Kristiana Jansone, 33, first noticed changes in him. Doctors classified him as failure-to-thrive, attributing his vomiting to a bug or acid reflux.
Emergency Diagnosis and Surgery
In September 2023, after a weekend of constant vomiting, Kristiana rushed Dominic to Morriston Hospital in Swansea. An MRI scan revealed hydrocephalus and optic pathway glioma (BRAF fusion) – a brain cancer where his BRAF gene fused with another, creating a permanent 'on' switch for cancer cell growth. He underwent emergency surgery at Cardiff Children's Hospital to fit a VP shunt to drain fluid from his brain.
“When they sat me down and told me what’s happening with him I couldn’t believe it,” Kristiana said. “It felt like everything was going in slow motion … They said the fluid had built up so much that if they don’t drain it in the next 24 hours he is going to die.”
Failed Chemotherapies and New Hope
Dominic has undergone three rounds of chemotherapy, all of which failed. An MRI in April 2024 confirmed progressive cancer growth. His consultant recommended Tovorafenib, a once-weekly oral medication only available in the EU. Dominic has dual citizenship, so he can access the treatment in Latvia, but the family must cover travel and accommodation costs.
“Every single time it’s been picked up that it’s not working,” Kristiana said. “An MRI in April showed growth again, which means we’ve exhausted all chemotherapies for him in Cardiff.”
Fundraising for Treatment Abroad
Kristiana, a full-time carer from Portmead, Wales, is fundraising to cover medical, travel, food, and accommodation costs. “Luckily, Dominic has the privilege of dual citizenship. The hospital is in Latvia and everything is free for us. Dominic will be the first child in Latvia to get the new drug,” she said. “Unfortunately, for us all my family members in Latvia have passed away – my mum and grandmother died of cancer. So we’ll be staying in hotels, renting a car and buying plane tickets. I’ve just now bought tickets to Latvia at the end of July and paid £1,600 just for the flights.”
After Dominic’s recent cancer progression, he is now recovering from shunt tap surgery and will undergo temporary chemotherapy to ensure he is fit to fly. “Currently, it is impossible in his current situation,” Kristiana said. “So we are praying and hoping for the best.” A fundraiser organized by friend Gemma is available to support the family.
