Hull mum calls for greater brain tumour research funding after her son spent weeks in hospital
Roux survived despite gloomy predictions from doctors
A Hull mum whose son defied doctor's predictions to survive a brain tumour is calling for research into the condition to get greater funding.
Amy Owen's son Roux spent weeks in hospital.
She believes it's vital money's spent on trying to find a cure.
She's now preparing to run the London marathon in aid of charity Brain Tumour Research and told us it had a devastating impact on Roux and whole family.
Our worlds were turned upside down
"He lost a lot of blood so I think at one point they replaced his blood one and a half times over in a surgery."
"He was really struggling with recovery and he developed sepsis and pneumonia at one point."
"Our worlds were turned upside down within a matter of about 5 hours from taking him to A and E to taking him to Leeds to being told he had a brain tumour."
We were in Leeds then after that for a really long period of time - he didn't leave the hospital for about 4 and a half months."
They said the best thing was to go home and make memories - but we didn't want to give up
"It's not easy - it's a challenge everyday."
"He's been left with a lot of difficulties - severe epilepsy which is drug resistant so no drugs work to control his seizures."
"He's blind in his left eye - he has cerebral palsy."
"He's developmentally delayed - he can't walk but he's a really happy little boy."
"They just said they thought the best thing was to go home and make memories and let him slip away."
"The alternative was to carry on with the surgeries and we just kind of said - he's fought through 5 surgeries."
"His surgeon agreed with us and agreed to carry on."
Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease
Carol Robertson, national events manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “With one in three people knowing someone affected by a brain tumour, Roux’s story is, sadly, not unique.
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002.
“We’re determined to change that but it’s only by working together we will be able to improve treatment options for patients and, ultimately, a cure.
We’re really grateful for Amy’s support and will be there to cheer her across the finish line in April.”
If you would like to support Amy's fundraising visit:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RouxsArmyMarathon2024