A young boy was diagnosed with a high-grade glioma brain tumour before dying in May 2021, at the age of eight. Lochlan Peckham's doctor initially thought he simply had a 'typical bug' when taken for a check-up in 2019, Yorkshire Live reports.
His parents Ross and Sonia Peckham were concerned for their then-six-year-old son when he was off school with a viral sickness bug. Ross said: "He deteriorated the next day; he was violently sick, and the spiky feeling had spread up his arm.”
Lochlan was taken to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he had an MRI scan, which showed a mass on his brain. He was immediately transferred to the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle to undergo surgery.
After a week, Lochlan returned to his Yorkshire home with his family, including his sister Faith, where he spent time recovering. During this period, he began suffering seizures, which meant he had to start six weeks of intensive daily radiotherapy earlier than planned - at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.
After finishing radiotherapy, Lochlan then had to contend with a planned course of six cycles of oral chemotherapy. "Lochlan managed to handle this treatment, so his medical team decided to extend his treatment to 12 cycles over 12 months,” Ross continued.
“Unfortunately, when he reached the end of cycle 12 there were no other treatment options available, and we went into a period of 'watch and wait' for six months. However, after three months, Lochlan's health was deteriorating, and an MRI scan confirmed that his cancer had spread to new areas of the brain.
“There was no further treatment options available for him. Again, we were heartbroken.
"Throughout each step of his journey we were always told to expect the worst, but at each point Lochlan showed his true colours, bravery and courage to overcome every hurdle that was in front of him, consistently exceeding all medical expectations."
Lochlan died on May 2 2021, with his loving family by his side. Almost a year-and-a-half on and the Peckham family have raised more than £5,000 for Brain Tumour Research.
This was achieved through various fundraising initiatives, such as a sponsored walk and transforming their home into ‘Lochlan’s winter wonderland’ last Christmas. In June earlier this year, Ross ran from his home in Marske-by-the-Sea to the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, which cared for his son.
The route also passed the spot where Lochlan is buried. Joined by Andrew Hebden, whose fiancée Dr Rebecca Hill was Lochlan’s lead consultant, the duo raised more than £4,000.
"There is such a lack of awareness of brain tumours and that is just wrong,” Ross added. “More funding needs to be assigned to researching this at a national level, in particular, paediatric brain tumour research, if our children are to survive this horrific disease in the future.
"The significance of the journey was huge, but it felt like a really happy moment. If Lochlan’s death can help in any way, that is great and if me running makes a fraction of a difference, then I’d do it ten times over. I hope Lochlan would be proud of me."
Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "We’re so sorry that Ross and Sonia lost their precious son to this horrendous disease and send our heartfelt condolences to them and to all who knew and loved Lochlan. We are extremely grateful to Ross and Andrew for doing this epic run.
It’s only with the support of people like them that we’re able to progress our research into brain tumours, improve options and outcomes for patients like Lochlan - and ultimately find a cure for all types of brain tumours."
To donate to Brain Tumour Research, click here.
