When her son Aston, nine, started having headaches, extreme tiredness and vomiting episodes, Jess Huckerby was worried. Jess, 36, said he was sometimes sleeping for as long as 36 hours at a time and couldn't stay awake for more than 30 minutes.
Seeking medical help, Jess said their GP recognised the symptoms, which appeared last March, as being akin to long Covid and he was referred to a clinic. However, he was turned away without a diagnosis before then suffering a blackout and a seizure in August last year.
It was then that he was given a CT scan. It showed swelling on his brain, with MRI results confirming he had a tumour. Now Jess wants to raise awareness of the signs of brain cancer in children.
Jess told the Mirror: "There needs to be more awareness raised about childhood cancers. The NHS is wonderful, but doctors don't have the time or resources they need to recognise red flags immediately. Aston's symptoms ticked some of the boxes of long Covid, but he could have been diagnosed with cancer much sooner."
Aston had three surgeries in August to remove the tumour in his brain. He then went on to chemotherapy, followed by intensive radiotherapy for a month.
Jess said: "We told Aston that he had a lot of muck in his head and it was stopping his brain from working properly. When he'd finished all his surgeries, we accidentally dropped the 'cancer' word and he got really upset.
"But Aston is such a positive and cheerful boy that after five minutes of tears, he took it in his stride. I am incredibly proud of him. He is always the kid that makes other children laugh and is so caring. The ward staff have even asked him to be a cancer ambassador when he turns 10 as he's dealt with it all amazingly."
Aston, who was treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital, said: "Having cancer has changed a lot of things in my life but there's no point in negativity. I'm hoping the treatment I'm having is going to make those tumours explode and go away. I can't wait to get back to football and school."
Football-loving Aston - who was named after his dad Andy Barnett's favourite team - was singled out for a visit by Aston Villa talent scouts just before he collapsed. Now his goalkeeper dreams have been put on hold momentarily while he recovers.
Aston said: "I love playing football and I'm a goalkeeper, but I can't play right now. When I feel sad, snuggling with mum and talking to my best friend cheers me up."
As well as receiving a video message from England's Harry Maguire, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez got in touch, which Aston said "made his whole life". Jess, from Wolverhampton, who is also mum to 13-year-old Stephen, is hopeful that the remaining tumours in Aston's brain and spinal cord will soon be dormant.
"We don't know what the future holds for Aston, so we take it one day at a time and accept the here and now," Jess said. "Aston is back to his old self and he's our boy. It's not the end of the world and there are amazing doctors and treatments out there."
Aston recently received a Star Award from Cancer Research UK, in partnership with TK Maxx, which honours the bravery and resilience of children affected by cancer.
"To receive the award means so much because it shows that other people recognise how special we know Aston is," Jess added.
You can donate to Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People on its website.
