Mum’s desperate plea after son’s lazy eye turned out to be terminal cancer
WHEN Kyle Morrison's mum noticed he had developed a "lazy eye", she thought a trip to the opticians was all he needed.
But the true diagnosis left Victoria shell-shocked and completely turned her family's life upside down.
Her eight-year old son, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour - and given just one year to live.
Heartbroken, Victoria is desperately trying to raise a staggering £150,000 for medical trials in Zurich which could save the youngster's life, with the help of good samaritan Shane Yerrell.
Shane, a support worker, said: "It's life or death now, that's the reality of it or time will run out."
Kyle's mum, 30, first suspected something was wrong on September 10, 2019, when she woke up to find he had suddenly developed a lazy eye overnight.
Concerned, Victoria rushed Kyle to their local opticians who told her Kyle needed an emergency eye appointment.
Just two days later she was then called to Andrews Lane Primary School and was told it looked like "Kyle had had a stroke".
He was rushed to accident and emergency at Lister Hospital near Stevenage and an MRI scan showed he had an aggressive tumour called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).
It's life or death now, that's the reality of it or time will run out
Shane Yerrell
Kyle hadn't shown any symptoms before this and the doctors sadly gave him around a year to live.
DIPG affects the part of the brain stem called the pons, which controls essential bodily functions such as heartbeat, breathing, swallowing, eye movement, eyesight, and balance.
The average survival after diagnosis is only nine months and only one per cent of children diagnosed with DIPG live for longer that five years.
DIPG cannot be operated on as an attempt of surgery could cause severe neurological damage and can be fatal.
Even if surgery was possible, it would be impossible to remove the entire tumour and the remaining cells would reform.
Kyle's family are now desperately trying to raise up to £150,000 for medical trials in Zurich which could save the youngster's life, according to the .
Good samaritan Shane, 36, a support worker for young people with mental disabilities, set up the fundraiser along with Kyle's mum after he learned about the potential for lifesaving trials abroad after reading about Kyle's devastating story in October.
When it's someone's life on the line, especially a child, you've just got to get on with it.
Shane Yerrell
He initially started another fundraiser in October to send Kyle to Lapland for Christmas which ended up raising £14,000 - more than double than what was hoped for.
Left over money from the first fundraiser had also allowed the family to move into a new flat and give Kyle his own bedroom, something he had always dreamed of.
Then, on December 22, Victoria took Kyle and her youngest son Tyler to Lapland and had ";the most amazing time".
"It was wonderful and we had the most amazing time. Kyle was back to his normal self and he just had so much fun," she said.
Signs to watch out for in your child...
DIFFUSE intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) are one of the more common and aggressive brain tumours in kids.
They start in a part of the brain - the brainstem - called the pons.
It's deep inside the lower part of the brain, which is why they can be so deadly.
It's the part of the brain that's responsible for critcal bodily functions like breathing, sleeping and blood pressure.
Experts don't know the cause of DIPG, which can be hard for parents to accept.
Signs and symptoms include:
- abornmal alignment of the eyes, or double vision
- weakness of facial muscles, or facial asymmetry
- arm and leg weakness
- unstable balance and co-ordination
- difficulties walking and speaking
To find out more visit
"He absolutely loved it and we made memories that will last a lifetime."
A highly sought after American doctor initially appeared to be Kyle's best bet, following some research, before news came back that he was no longer accepting international patients.
Instead, Kyle's family discovered trials in Zurich.
Shane said: "Although Kyle is looking back to normal and he's back to his normal self, the doctors have still said his condition hasn't changed and that's heartbreaking.
Desperate plea
"It's such a shame about America, it's a big blow but there's the possibility of him going to Zurich for the essentially the same medical trials but we're not too sure when they'll be.
"So I thought it's best to start fundraising now and have the money ready and waiting instead of three months down the line, them saying to us he can go and us not be ready.
"We've just to get on with it now because time is of the essence and when it's someone's life on the line, especially a child, you've just got to get on with it.
"If there's the possibility this is going to save Kyle's life we have to try and we already have about £1,700 left over from the Lapland fundraiser which will go towards it as we are so desperate to get him to there.
More on cancer
"We're so grateful for everyone's support so far and hopefully we can now help get Kyle to Zurich."
The total cost for the medical trial is unknown but Shane and Victoria are hoping to raise between £100,000 and £150,000 to ensure he is able to take part.
You can donate to Kyle's fundraiser