Couple tie knot in last-minute wedding after discovering son, 8, has just weeks to live
AN EMOTIONAL, last-minute wedding has been held after a couple were told their son, eight, has just weeks to live.
Hannah Cowlishaw and Henry Matthews hastily arranged their nuptials a year early so Ethan - who has terminal brain cancer - could enjoy their special day.
HEADACHES AND BACK PAIN
Hannah, who works as a dinner lady at Ethan's school, told the paper that he was "suffering a lot of back pain, and is starting to get headaches again."
More than £2,500 was raised by the community to help pay towards specialist medical care, and trips for Ethan, along with his brothers Brandon and Jack.
Ethan had radiotherapy and an operation to remove 96 per cent of the cancer from his spine.
But, last week the family received the news that they had been dreading - the cancer is terminal and Ethan has just four weeks left to live.
Hannah added: "We sort of knew anyway because he was getting worse but it's still a shock.
"He deteriorated so quickly within three months.
"I think he knows."
What is medulloblastoma?
Medulloblastoma is a type of cancerous brain tumour that can sometimes affect adults but mostly happens to kids.
It causes about 10 per cent of all childhood cancer deaths.
Medulloblastoma is commonly found in children between the ages of three and eight - with a high occurrence in boys.
It starts in or near what is called the cerebellum, an area in the brain that controls motor skills, and can spread to other parts of the brain or spinal cord.
Children with medulloblastoma are currently given a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
But these can have numerous debilitating side-effects, including impaired brain function, growth deficits and social problems.
Symptoms are usually caused by increased pressure on the brain.
They may include:
- Abrupt onset of headaches, especially in the morning
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Feeling extremely tired
- Loss of balance and co-ordination which may lead to difficulty walking
- Abnormal eye movements
- Blurry vision caused by swelling of the optic disc at the back of the eye