A CHESTER mum today spoke out about her son’s gruelling seven-year battle with cancerous brain tumours.
Debra Hayward, whose son Michael was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was aged five, is urging women to enter Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life and create ‘amazing moments’ for themselves and thousands of others.
Michael, who lives in Hoole, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in 2002 when he was aged just five.
The youngster, who was a pupil at St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s Catholic Primary School at the time, had been regularly sick in the mornings for six months prior to the diagnosis and was struggling to walk without holding his mum’s hand.
When Michael, who has an older brother called Stephen, was diagnosed, he underwent immediate surgery which left him unable to talk for two months.
Michael, who is now 12, has never been able to walk since the surgery when he was five-years-old.
At the start of 2003, Michael began a gruelling course of chemotherapy for nine months at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
In September of the same year he received stem cell treatment and remained in remission until the end of 2005 when a scan showed the tumour had started to grow again.
Michael underwent radiotherapy treatment for three months in 2006 and was once again in remission.
However, by the end of 2007, the tumour grew again and doctors told his family nothing could be done to help him survive.
Brave Michael, who was left with development problems following the surgery he underwent as a five-year-old, has received palliative care for more than two years, with chemotherapy administered to him at home by his mum.
He attends Chester Catholic High School as often as his health allows him to and continues to amaze everyone who meets him by overcoming infections and remaining determined to enjoy life.
His mum Debra, who is originally from Ireland, is keen to raise awareness of children’s brain tumours.
The 46-year-old raised an impressive £500 for Cancer Research UK last summer by taking part in Race for Life in the Wirral.
She will be guest of honour at Race for Life in Chester on Sunday, June 13, when she kicks-off the countdown at 9am and starts the sounding horn to set-off the 5,000 women expected to take part in the event.
Debra said: “By the time Michael was diagnosed, he had already developed secondary tumours and his chances of recovery were significantly reduced.
“We just wish the diagnosis had been quicker and then he would have stood a better chance of survival.
“But Michael has amazed us all by being such a determined fighter. I’m incredibly proud of his courage and ability to keep going no matter what.
“Thanks to research and better treatment, Michael is still with us today.
“It’s vital that as many women as possible sign-up for Race for Life because
Cancer Research UK relies on public donations to continue its work which can help children in the future like Michael.”
In 2009, 4,700 women took part in Race for Life in Chester and helped to raise £216,912 and this year fundraisers are hoping to hit more than £225,000.
Event manager, Helen Wright, said: “Women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes take part take part in Race for Life. They motivate and inspire each other to complete the 5K course. Many simply walk round, chatting and having fun but they all share the wonderful atmosphere.
“We can’t think of anyone more inspirational than Debra to set off the participants as she is so courageous and raised a tremendous amount of money for Cancer Research UK last summer by taking part in Race for Life.”
Race for Life is a unique celebration of sisterhood and pride where women of all ages and fitness levels join together to walk, jog or run 5K and raise money for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.
Women in the North West can enter Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life at www.raceforlife.org or by calling 0871 641 1111.