The mum of a terminally ill boy has called for a halt in donations to a fundraising campaign to pay for potentialy life-saving treatment after doctors told her they can do nothing more to save him.A fundraising drive to send five-year-old Josh McCormack to America for potentially life-saving treatment helped to boost the campaign by almost £20,000 in less than 24 hours.
Parents Nicola and Kev, from Whitworth in Rochdale, have thanked everyone for their incredible support, but say that Josh’s condition has deteriorated so far now that all anyone can offer is palliative care.The youngster was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in October last year and weeks later underwent a life-or-death operation to remove it. Nicola and Kev were told the odds of him making it through surgery were just 50/50, but he pulled through, and started on a gruelling course of chemotherapy.But the treatment made him seriously ill, and doctors said he would be unable to continue with it.
His parents were told to take him home and enjoy their time together, but held on to one shred of hope – an immunotherapy trial in the United States which would cost £200,000.
A fundraising campaign was launched earlier this year and friends, family, their community and even strangers, rallied together to help raise the cash, and a group was set up on Facebook to let people know of their progress.
This morning, Nicola posted in the group to break the news about her son’s condition.
She said: “Your recent fund raising efforts have been amazing but thought I needed to give you the heads up as it doesn’t seem like immunotherapy is an option for us right now so it wouldn’t be right for you continue to raise funds for something that’s not likely to happen.
“Thank you for all your support and for making our summer full of fun possible.
Because of your generosity we made some magical cherished memories that will stay with us forever. Josh even managed 4 days at school.
“Thank you for everything you have done to bring joy and happiness to my boy this summer, you have been amazing.”
She later added: “Joshua deterioration is rapidly up on us. As the lights seem to be dimming in his eyes it dims in our hearts.
“Basically palliative care is all anyone can offer.
“We are so privileged to be parents of the best boy ever. We owe him everything but can give him nothing in return to help him just love him until the bitter end. “Which IS bitter, it’s twisted, it’s cruel and it makes what we made of our lives utterly pointless.
“How can we move on from this-the answer is WE CANT.
“No more fundraising is needed, just love and support for those around us xxx.”
Mirror