A schoolboy was diagnosed with cancer just two weeks after the funeral of his identical twin brother, who died from a brain tumour.
Jack Parton, now 15, was diagnosed with leukaemia after doctors initially believed he was suffering from PTSD following the death of his brother Ben, who passed away in December 2019, just ten days before Christmas.
Ben was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord, after bouts of vomiting and painful headaches. Despite two surgeries, 30 sessions of radiotherapy and two cycles of chemotherapy, he died eight months after his diagnosis.
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Two weeks after Ben’s funeral, tragedy struck the family a second time when Jack was diagnosed with blood cancer. Mum Julie Parton, 54, said: "To be told my surviving son had leukaemia was devastating. Although I have to hold out hope that leukaemia is curable whereas Ben never had that chance."
Ben was given less than two years to live by doctors after a CT scan at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton showed a mass on his brain. Julie, from Cannock, Staffordshire, described her late son as "very laid back" compared to "fiesty" Jack. "They balanced each other out," she added.
Julie said Jack is "doing well" and nearing the end of his treatment. "I feel privileged to be his mum," she said.
The family are this month raising money for a cancer charity Brain Tumour Research in Ben's memory, and have already got nearly £1,000 in donations. Julie said: "Ben loved Christmas and would get so excited from end of October. He made Christmas so fun for us."
Twin Jack is taking part in Brain Tumour Research's Wear A Christmas Hat Day and the family will be hosting an open house event on December 10. Jack's fellow pupils and teachers at Kingsmead School will also be donning their own festive headwear on December 16 to support the fundraiser.
Proud Julie said: “This time of year is always hard as Ben died before Christmas, but we decided to use his love of parties to celebrate his life each December."
Mel Tiley, community, development manager at Brain Tumour Research, which funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK, said: “Ben’s story is devastating and we’re grateful to Julie for sharing this with us. The family’s experience demonstrates the need for more funding and research into brain tumours to keep families together.
"We wish Julie and Jack all the best for their fundraiser this Wear A Christmas Hat Day. Anyone can sign up, and if you can’t join in on Friday December 16, don’t worry! You can hold your event on any other day in December to suit you."
To donate to Brain Tumour Research text HAT to 70450 to donate £5 to Brain Tumour Research. Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message.
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