A teen was given a shock cancer diagnosis after his identical twin died of the illness weeks earlier.
Doctors initially thought Jack Parton was suffering from PTSD from losing brother Ben, but tests revealed he actually had leukaemia - a form of blood cancer.
Ben tragically died of a brain tumour ten days before Christmas 2019, despite 30 gruelling blasts of radiotherapy and two cycles of chemotherapy.
The 12-year-old had been diagnosed with a glioblastoma eight months earlier after bouts of vomiting and painful headaches.
A month later, a CT scan at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton showed a mass on his brain and he was given less than two years to live.
But horror struck the grieving family two weeks after Ben's funeral, when Jack discovered he, too, had cancer.
The family from Cannock, Staffordshire, have spoken out about the horrific three years they have had to spread awareness of child chancers as next week marks the anniversary of Ben's death.
Mum Julie Parton, 54, said the twins had been the perfect duo, with laid-back Ben "balancing out" feisty Jack.
"But Ben loved Christmas and would get so excited from end of October. He made Christmas so fun for us.”
The family have been raising cash for the Brain Tumour Research, with brave Jack getting his classmates to don festive apparel for the charity's Wear A Christmas Hat Day in Ben's memory.
Proud Julie said: “This time of year is always hard as Ben died before Christmas, but we decided to use his love of parties to celebrate his life each December.
"Jack is doing well and nearing the end of his treatment. I feel privileged to be his mum."
Mel Tiley, community, development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Ben’s story is devastating and we’re grateful to Julie for sharing this with us.
"The family’s experience demonstrates the need for more funding and research into brain tumours to keep families together.
"We wish Julie and Jack all the best for their fundraiser this Wear A Christmas Hat Day.
"Anyone can sign up, and if you can’t join in on Friday December 16, don’t worry! You can hold your event on any other day in December to suit you."
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK.
It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.
