The family of a teenager who has come home to the North East after being told the devastating news he had just days left to live have said that's he's "not scared at all".
Family and friends of Dylan Reid, 14 who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November 2020, came to Ouseburn to surprise him and his immediate family with the unveiling of a mural in his honour. Dylan was diagnosed with the aggressive and rare cancer just weeks after moving from the North East to Liverpool with his mum Kelly Ann Moore.
The 14-year-old has had surgery to remove a tumour and underwent three intense rounds of chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells in his blood. Tragically, doctors at Ronald McDonald house told Dylan and his family that nothing more could be done to treat him, and he has returned to his home in Tyneside for his final days.
Read more: Heartbreak as 'loving' Longbenton schoolboy, 14, with rare cancer has days left to live
Kelly Ann called his diagnosis devastating, but paid tribute to her son, saying: "He's very sassy, he's always smiling. He won’t let it get him down, he’s just a bubbly person."
She added: "All his family are here and he just loves being able to see his family and his friends. He loves going up to the park, the Oval at Longbenton."
Dylan is now being treated in the RVI but has been able to get out and about since his return to the North East thanks to a GoFundMe page set up by his auntie Danielle, who still lives in Longbenton. It follows an appearance from Bongo's Bingo came to Ronald McDonald House at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, as his humble request when he found out he had a short time left was to play bingo.
His auntie Danielle said: "A lot of people have been donating so that Dylan can go out and spend the day out, he's been going to the pictures (the 14-year-old is a big fan of Marvel Films and cited Scarlet Witch as his favourite character, but instead saw Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), going shopping and going to the arcades. He's been doing as much as he can!"
But she is just happy to have him back on Tyneside, saying: "I couldn't tell you in words how happy we are to have him back up here. We've been travelling down to Liverpool and we never thought we'd make it in time if anything did happen, so for him to be back here in the RVI is fantastic."
And Danielle says that Dylan has "accepted" what's going to happen. She finished: "He's never cried yet about the whole situation, he's accepted it.
"He's rang me to tell me about funeral flowers and what everyone's got to wear for the funeral. He's not scared at all, he's quite open about it.
"It has been a heart-breaking time for the family. We want to create as many memories as we can with Dylan."
The mural unveiled was to promote a DJ event, Dance For Dylan 2, an all-night party at Cosmic Ballroom on Stowell Street with money raised will going towards alleviating financial pressure on Dylan's family and providing anything that he wishes while he is still here. Dylan was presented with a Newcastle United shirt signed by Bruno Guimaraes by MC Tazo, who will play at the event, and his son Tyler.
If you would like to donate towards family, you can do so at the link here.
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