Devastated mum starts bucket list for her terminal six-year-old
Little Randall had “one of the biggest personalities” in his class. He’s now unable to walk, or properly talk.
A healthy six-year-old Ipswich boy has gone from being “full of life” to receiving a terminal brain cancer diagnosis in just 12 weeks.
Randall had “one of the biggest personalities” in his class. He’s now unable to walk, or properly talk.
His devastated mother Gemmi Sailes said her boy had suddenly become dizzy and unable to stand while at a family day out.
“He was on a jumping castle having fun then all of a sudden he put himself in the corner and became quite pale,” she said.
He then vomited, with his parents believing he had heat stroke. He continued to get worse.
Ms Sailes said his symptoms subsided the next day, with doctors believing he’d been struck with gastro.
But a few weeks later, the symptoms returned.
After multiple trips to the hospital his terrified mum said she “knew something was wrong.”
“Initially the doctor didn't want to do a CT scan but we told them we want it because of how bad his balance was. Within two hours of the CT scan we received a call telling us to take him to the hospital now,” she said.
Randall was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumour.
“He had an operation a week after being in hospital where they removed the initial tumour, which was causing facial paralysis,” she said.
Randall still couldn’t walk or talk on his own and still had partial facial paralysis.
Two more lesions appeared over the span of a week.
Ms Sailes was then told the news no parent wants to hear: the cancer was terminal.
“It will take him away from me … they can’t tell me when,” she said.
“Nothing can be any worse than this. Now my poor little man can’t walk, talk, or do anything on his own.
“We haven’t told him or his twin brother the full story because I want him to be happy in the time they have left together.
“Bringing him home the other day was scarier than bringing home a newborn baby.
“We all had the biggest cry together and now we are all just trying to make the best memories with him. We try not show emotion when we are with him.”
Ms Sailes said the family had started putting together a bucket list for Randall.
“We ask him things and he tells us ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as that is all he can say at this stage,” she said.
“Each day as we chat we add a little more.
“He is a very easy kid and doesn’t ask for much ever.”
Randall will start six weeks of radiotherapy next month in an attempt to prolong his life as much as possible.
A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help support the family.
