An Ayrshire mum has told how doctors could only tell her dying son to “go home and make memories” as he lost his fight with brain cancer.
Dawn Kennedy from Ayr has recalled the horrific moment that medics had run out of options for her son Jay who died in October 2021, aged just 20.
Around 18 months earlier former Belmont Academy pupil Jay was first diagnosed with brain cancer after a tumour the size of an orange was discovered by medics.
The aggressive tumour was tackled with three major operations and blasts of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But the cancer returned and despite best efforts doctors were unable to do anything else to treat Jay.
Dawn has opened up on that shattering moment as she vows to raise awareness for more research to be done to treat and one day cure brain tumours.
The grieving mum is set to take a ‘jump for hope’ by leaping out of a plane at 10,000 ft for Brain Tumour Research.
Dawn, 53, will be joined by Jay’s older brother Blair, 25, as they take on the endurance challenge in Perth on June 10.
Dawn told Ayrshire Live: “Brain tumours are a killer, they take more lives under the age of 40 than any other cancer, and just 12 per cent of people survive more than five years.
“It’s not just tough on families but it’s tough on the amazing doctors and researchers who would love to be able to do more, but there has not been enough funds ploughed into it.
“When there was nothing else they could do for Jay all the doctors could tell us was to go home and make memories. It is horrific and absolutely shattering to hear that as a parent.
“At the time Jay wrote a journal, “maybe one day this will be treatable but we’re not there yet.” We really hope he is right and future generations of families won’t have to go through the nightmare we have.”
Dawn and Blair will take on the sky dive in sync with other families across the UK who will leap out planes for Brain Tumour Research.
The Sky Dive has been arranged as part of the ‘Jump for Hope’ campaign which aims to raise thousands. And Dawn believes Jay will be with them as they take the plunge.
Dawn said: “It’s something I can imagine Jay doing with his brother, he was very adventurous. He didn’t have a fear of anything. Jumping out of a plane is nothing compared to what Jay went through, he was so brave.
“For us it’s taking that next step, we’ve just tried to live the way Jay would have wanted us to. We know he’ll be jumping with us.”
The ‘Jump for Hope’ will mark almost a year to the day to the Jay Walk which saw around 300 participants walk the river Ayr in his name. The walk raised an incredible £91,206 for Ayrshire Cancer Support for their new centre in Ayr.
Dawn added: “Last year was amazing. The support and amount raised was incredible. This time is just a wee thing that is more for us.”
To donate to Dawn and Blair’s jump you can donate here.
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