Mason's Story
Meet supersonic Mason!
At just 7 years old, Mason’s life – and his family’s – changed forever when he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Choroid Plexus Carcinoma, a rare and aggressive brain cancer.
Mason had been complaining of mild headaches and exhaustion after school, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then, one morning, he woke up with severe neck pain. When mum Carly tried to lift him, he screamed in agony.
She says: “It was so unlike him. I knew something was wrong. I rushed him to A&E, where I mentioned the headaches and tiredness. The doctor listened and suggested an MRI scan. I remember saying, ‘Yes – let’s do that, just for peace of mind.’ Looking back, I’m so thankful for that moment. It saved his life.
“Two days later, our world turned upside down. Mason had a tumour on the left side of his brain. What if we hadn’t done the scan? The thought still haunts me.
He’d ask why him? He thought that none of his friends would want to play with him any more. He would shut himself in his room and cry. It broke my heart.
Carly, Mason's mum
Moments of joy
“He needed immediate brain surgery – 8.5 agonising hours. The worst wait ever. I had no idea how he would recover, but he amazed everyone and was able to leave the hospital just five days later. His strength and courage were beyond anything I could have imagined.
“Then came months of intense chemotherapy. The routine was grueling: one week of treatment, three weeks of recovery, over and over. Mason lost his hair. He struggled to understand why he looked ‘different’.
“Then, he discovered the ECHC-funded virtual reality headsets which helped him through long chemo sessions. He loves technology, and the VR became his escape, transporting him to other worlds, far away from the tubes and medicines.
“Mason has autism spectrum disorder so finds changes to his routine difficult. ECHC’s Hub became our sanctuary – a place where he could laugh, play and just be a kid. It doesn’t feel like you’re in hospital at all.
In remission
“Mason loved the arts and crafts. One of my favourite memories is, one autumn day, while other children made hedgehogs with colourful leaves, Mason coloured his bright blue to show his love for Sonic the Hedgehog! It’s still on the wall there.
“On December 17th, after nearly a year of surgeries, chemotherapy, and countless hospital visits, Mason rang the end-of-treatment bell. His October MRI was clear—he was in remission. I’ll never forget the sound of that bell or the joy we felt that day.
“You never imagine hearing the words ‘Your child has cancer.’ It makes you realise how fragile life is and to make the best of what you have. We are cherishing every moment.
“To anyone reading this, thank you for supporting families like mine. Your generosity makes those wonderful extras like the Hub possible and gives children like Mason moments of happiness when they need it most. Your support really does make such a difference.”
