A sick teenager asked his mum if he was 'going to survive' after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumour.
Arnold Chappin, 13, started losing his balance and limping earlier this month. Concerned mum Ruth took him to see his GP and he was referred for tests. Days later, Ruth and dad Brett were tragically told their beloved son had up to a year left to live after doctors discovered an aggressive tumour called Brain Stem Glioma.
Arnold, also known as Arnie, is very 'adventurous and clumsy', so Ruth and Brett originally thought his injuries were down to his usual behaviour. It wasn't until Arnold started struggling to put on his socks and shoes and was finding it difficult to use his left hand that they knew something wasn't right.
"It all started about three weeks ago when he started limping on his left side," Ruth told the Manchester Evening News. "I noticed he was holding his arm up and that he seemed to be off balance and kept falling over a lot.
"He can be very adventurous and clumsy so at first we just thought it was what he is like as a person. He is always rushing around, climbing up things and falling over.
"Then I really started to see him deteriorate with his balance. He couldn't put his shoes and socks on and was unable to use his left hand. I decided to go straight to the GP and I could see how concerned they were. I started to get so worried.
Arnold was taken for neurological tests and an MRI scan by specialists in a paediatric unit. It was revealed that he had a left-sided weakness, was uncoordinated and his reflexes were not responding as they should.
Further tests at the Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge later showed that he had a 'large mass' on his brain.
Ruth added: "When we saw the consultant, I knew straight away it was going to be bad news because of the way he was. Then they told us there is nothing they can do, it is a really aggressive tumour and that there is no cure.
"We couldn't believe it. We were shocked and just completely devastated. They told us if he didn't have radiation he has six to nine months to live, but with radiation treatment he could live for up to a year."
Originally from Manchester but now living in Bedfordshire, the family are looking to relocate to be with loved ones and create final happy memories with Arnold. Ruth emotionally recalled the moment that she lay beside him in the hospital bed and told him the devastating news.
"Once we found out the news and told him he had cancer, he kept acting questions. He knew how serious it was and picked up on that. We tried to be positive in front of him, but it's impossible," she said.
"He kept saying 'am I going to lose my hair?' and 'am I going to be okay?' At the beginning we could reassure him because we weren't expecting it to be so devastating. As a parent, you are grasping onto any kind of hope.
"I was lying in the hospital bed early in the morning last Friday and and asked me, 'am I going to survive mum?' I knew I had to tell him the truth. I looked at him and said no, you're not, and he just broke down crying.
"I told him he wouldn't be on his own and we would be with him every step of the way. I've been blown away by the way he's handled it all.
"You have to just to try and carry on as much as you can. You have to try to forget about it all for a few minutes and pretend it's not really happening.
"He is so courageous. I feel like he has taught me how to live life to the fullest. He's so positive and full of energy and enthusiasm for life."
Ruth and Brett, along with Arnold and his siblings George, 20, Stella, 18, Henry, 15 and Ivan, two, are now hoping to relocate back to Manchester to be with their family before he deteriorates. He will need to use a wheelchair and will eventually stop being able to speak and eat.
Ruth's brother set up a GoFundMe page to try and help them garner the funds to move up north and also to give Arnold the chance to experience things he has always dreamt of, such as going out for a spin in an Audi R8, zip-lining and meeting his favourite rapper Jordan McCann.
"I want to be able to let him experience as many things as he can, but I don't know how fast he's going to deteriorate," Ruth added. "We want to make sure this is the best year of his life, surrounded by family."
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