A dad has told how a doctor thought his six-year-old son had a "typical bug" before he became "violently sick" and tragically died of a brain tumour.
Lochlan Peckham, of North Yorkshire died on May 2, 2021, and now his father Ross has run 55 miles in his memory for charity.
The youngster had gone for a doctor's check up in 2019 with his parents Ross and Sonia Peckham worried as he was sick and had been off school, reported YorkshireLive.
The doctor thought he had a "typical bug" before becoming considerably worse the following day.
"He deteriorated the next day; he was violently sick, and the spiky feeling had spread up his arm," Ross said.
Lochlan was taken to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he had an MRI scan, which revealed a mass on his brain.
Lochlan then had surgery at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle and returned home but his six-month radiotherapy treatment had to be brought forward when he started to suffer seizures.
Following that he had an initial six cycles of oral chemotherapy.
Ross said: "Lochlan managed to handle this treatment, so his medical team decided to extend his treatment to 12 cycles over 12 months. 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 with his loving family by his side and since then, the Peckham family have raised more than £5,000 for Brain Tumour Research through fundraising initiatives such as a sponsored walks and turning their home into ‘Lochlan’s winter wonderland’ last Christmas.
On 24 June 2022, Ross ran from Marske-by-the-Sea to the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, passing the spot where his son is buried.
He was joined by Andrew Hebden, whose fiancée Dr Rebecca Hill was Lochlan’s lead consultant.
Ross said: "There is such a lack of awareness of brain tumours and that is just wrong. 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."
To donate to Brain Tumour Research, click here.
