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My ‘superhero’ little boy, 7, went for a routine eye test at school – months later he died of devastating hidden illness

My ‘superhero’ little boy, 7, went for a routine eye test at school – months later he died of devastating hidden illness

WORST NIGHTMARE

Lenny was rushed to The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for emergency surgery

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A woman kisses a young boy holding a popsicle, Image 2 shows Photo of a young boy wearing a Minecraft shirt

A DEVASTATED mother has spoken out after her little boy tragically died after a two-year health battle.

Lenny Lax started struggling with headaches in 2022 and his family have warned others that his illness could have been easily dismissed as a bug.

A woman kisses a young boy holding a popsicle.

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Grieving mother Sophie Hunt has spoken out after her son Lenny passed awayCredit: Facebook/Sophie Hunt
Photo of a young boy wearing a Minecraft shirt.

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The "little fighter" never complained despite his ordeal fighting against glioblastomaCredit: Facebook/Sophie Hunt

The seven-year-old from Stockport sadly died on April 5 after going through several rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a trial drug.

The "little fighter" never complained despite his ordeal fighting against glioblastoma.

This is an aggressive type of grade four cancer that is incurable and invades the brain.

His mother Sophie Hunt described how he first struggled with headaches before later becoming lethargic and couldn't get out of bed in the morning.

But it wasn't until he went for a routine eye test that they realised something was very wrong.

A CT scan found a tumour "the size of an adult's fist" on his brain.

He was then rushed to The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for emergency surgery.

His mother told MEN: "It was the worst 12 hours of my life."

She recalled how the doctor told her that Lenny probably wouldn't live for another year.

"He had just been being sick, then two days later we were told he didn't have long to live. As a parent you just go into fight or flight mode."

Lenny received radiotherapy treatment daily in six week rounds.

As part of this, he had to be put to sleep and he lost weight rapidly.

The little boy was "sick and miserable" as he received treatment for the aggressive disease.

Sophie said she never told him quite how bad it was so he could keep on being as happy as possible.

His life was extended by two months thanks to a drug trial from the US that made the tumour get smaller.

But the side effects meant his bones became so brittle they were fractured and broke easily.

Sophie said: "It was only in January this year that a scan showed that it was like a firework had gone off in his head and there were speckles of the disease everywhere."

The doctors said there was nothing more they could do, and his family took Lenny everywhere he wanted to go in the time he had left.

Posting on social media after he died, Sophie wrote: "Our beautiful brave super hero Lenny Jax has gained his angel wings in the early hours this morning. Words can’t describe the heartbreak we our going through now.

"The only thing that is sitting right with me is he is no longer in pain. No more hospitals, no more drugs, no more being told he isn’t allowed to do what little boys should be doing.

"He battled this awful disease with everything he had and I couldn’t be more prouder to be his mummy… you rest now my sweet angel... love you always and forever."

A GoFundMe has been set up to give Lenny a "send off fit for a king".

Spider-Man and a child dressed as Mario.

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Lenny passed away on April 5 after a two-year fight against glioblastomaCredit: Gofundme
What is a glioblastoma?

Glioblastomas are a fast-growing type of cancerous brain tumour.

Symptoms depend on where the tumour is located, but they can include:

  • Headaches
  • Personality changes
  • Memory problems
  • Trouble speaking or understanding
  • Tiredness
  • Depression
  • Difficulty thinking
  • Seizures
  • Problems with eyesight

Scientists don't fully understand what causes glioblastomas, therefore there is no clear way to prevent the disease.

The main treatments include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

The average survival time following a glioblastoma diagnosis is 12 to 18 months.

Only 25 per cent of patients live beyond one year, and just five per cent survive more than five years.

Source: Cancer Research UK and the Brain Tumour Charity

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