Andy was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma in January of 2023. Up to age 8 Andy had always been such a healthy child. He loves to bake any type of cookie, pie, cupcakes or cake. He is also an amazing artist and won pre-diagnosis he won his county art contest Today he is still doing these things that he loves even while facing posterior fossa syndrome due to surgery. Since his surgery in January 2023 Andy has come such a long way and his family are so proud of him.
Andy’s Mum, Heather says ”Andy was a normal 8 year old boy who was so full of life. All of that changed in a matter of minutes on January 9, 2023. Our world was turned upside down by something we never even imagined happening”
Andy received surgery in January 2023. The tumour was stuck to the brain stem and surgeons were unable to remove 100% of it but they remained confident that the cancer could be treated with chemo and radiotherapy. Andy has now completed 33 radiation treatments and 6 rounds of chemo. But this journey is far from over.
In Febuary 2024 Andy started having seizures, he has also needed a blood transfusion. His mum Heather says “Andy seemed fine and then all of a sudden he wasn’t.He was trying to go to sleep and was very annoyed with the leads and not being able to get comfortable. Then he felt very nauseous. After he threw up, he started shaking as if he was very cold. It’s still just a waiting game right now. He is getting frustrated because he is in the hospital and literally can’t do anything because he is being monitored for seizures and a machine is recording him and he has to be in view of that camera at all times”
The final MRI results were given to the family on 20th February 2024 and tragically they show a new 1cm brain tumour. Andy’s believe this is what’s causing the seizures. They are currently waiting to discuss new treatment options. Andy is aware and is very quiet and anxious.
Heather says “ Until we were the family facing this diagnosis, we truly didn’t understand what happened in order to treat cancer in children.Completing the same cancer protocol from many years ago should not be what kids are facing in 2023. Families should not have to be fighting this fight. Our kids deserve more.“
I'll always be Joss' Mum
£10
A gift of just £10 could help give support to a family who are struggling with a new diagnosis
£25
A gift of £25 per month could pay for a days pioneering research into rare brain tumours
DIPG brain tumours are currently an incurable and devastating cancer.
DIPG robs a child of their hearing, sight, movement, the ability to swallow and eventually their breathing.
It’s only with your help that research into this devastating cancer is possible.
Joss Searchlight are funding vital research into the most life-threatening brain tumours. Please be part of our journey.
FAMILY SUPPORT
Along with providing financial grants to help families struggling with the expenses of having a child with cancer we also provide life changing support.
Support Workers who advise, visit and support families with compassion are an essential part of Joss Searchlight.
Family support is in our DNA, as the founding trustees know what an important part compassionate support played in helping them during their son’s illness and after his sad death.
We can’t fund research and we can’t support families without you.
FINDING A CURE
At Joss Searchlight we totally depend on donations. Donations enable us to fund vital brain tumour research, to find a cure for some of the rarest brain tumours, to campaign for better treatments and support families on their cancer journey when they need it most.
Research organisations need funding stability, they need to know that they have enough money coming in every month to allow them to do their incredibly important work. We need to pledge a certain amount of funding every year to make sure they’re able to do everything they can to find cures and treatment programmes for some of the hardest-to-treat brain tumours.
Children should enjoy their childhood
Not spend their lives fighting cancer
Help us find a cure for rare brain tumours. Give your support today
