The family of a brave teenager who battled cancer for the last three years have been left heartbroken after he lost his fight with the disease.
Dylan Reid was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in November 2020 shortly after moving from Newcastle to Dovecot. The teen was set to start his first day of school in the city but after fears a dark, purple rash covering his chest, arms and legs was potentially deadly meningitis, mum Kelly Ann Moore rushed her 12-year-old son to nearby Alder Hey Children's Hospital.
Kelly Ann previously told the ECHO how she "broke down crying" when the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was confirmed. According to the NHS, the disease is an aggressive and fast growing cancer diagnosed in roughly 790 people in the UK each year.
READ MORE: After a cruel winter, people in Merseyside already fear what comes next
The 14-year-old had surgery to remove a tumour and underwent three intense rounds of chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells in his blood. It was hoped a bone marrow transplant, carried out at Manchester Royal Infirmary in November 2022, would improve his condition.
Tragically, the operation was not successful. He was then given the worst possible news after doctors said nothing more can be done to save him.
Dylan recently left Liverpool to move back to Newcastle, but sadly, on Tuesday March 14, he passed away at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary - just days after he and his family had attended the unveiling of a mural painted in his honour.
Following his tragic death, Dylan’s family have since paid tribute to the "sassy" teen who fought cancer until the end. Speaking to Chronicle Live, Dylan's aunty, Danielle, said the teen's condition slowly deteriorated a day after he had attended a surprise unveiling of a mural in his honour.
She said: "Dylan went back to his mam's house for dinner on Sunday and he started to get a bit tired. By Monday he was asleep pretty much all day and then on Tuesday evening he was gone, it happened so quick.
"We are broken. We knew it was going to come to an end at some point, but we didn't think it would be that quick. But we have many fond memories of Dylan, we have his wall and many events coming up in his memory. We'll never forget him, never ever."
Danielle added: "He's out of pain now, he's peaceful. He's not having people prodding and poking him on a daily basis and having to go through all of those horrific treatments. We'd like people to remember him as a sassy little boy with his own unique personality, he was his own person. He was one of those who you will never forget."
Dylan leaves behind a large, loving family, including his mum Kelly Ann Moore. Speaking at the unveiling of his mural last week, she said: "He's very sassy, he's always smiling. He won’t let it get him down, he’s just a bubbly person."
Get the top stories straight to your inbox by signing up to our what's on newsletter
READ NEXT:
Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Updates as armed police close road and warn people to stay inside their homes
Mum 'scared' for eight children as family face being evicted
Two arrested as armed police shut down street and surround home
Mum shed five stone and dumped husband after realisation on girls' holiday
