First published on Saturday 08 November 2003
Boy who defied death up for national award
A schoolboy who defied doctors' predictions that he had four weeks to live after finding a golf ball-sized tumour in his brain has been praised for his bravery.
More than two years after he was diagnosed with cancer, Chris Harrison, 12, of Haydon Road, Didcot, has been nominated for a Cancer Research UK Little Star award by his parents Peter and Carol, and his 10-year-old brother James.
The St Birinus School pupil underwent a six-hour operation to remove the lump, followed by 30 days of radiography and nearly 20 weeks of intense chemotherapy.
Since the treatment, at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Radcliffe Infirmary, his chance of survival has increased from one in five, to four in five.
His father said: "Chris has probably experienced more in the last two years than any of us would in a lifetime.
"He can't do contact sport, he has short-term memory loss, he has weakness down his right side and problems with his balance, but he seems to have the mind of a 30-year-old. He is a very polite and good boy."
Chris was diagnosed with medullablastoma at the top of his brain stem in July 2001, following a bout of bad headaches. At first, his teachers thought he had dyslexia and dyspraxia, which cause learning difficulties.
He was then diagnosed with bad migraines, but medication had no effect.
Mr Harrison, 43, an engineer for Thames Water, said: "One day, he had two or three migraine attacks on the trot. The next day my wife phoned the GP, who insisted on seeing him and sent him to casualty.
"The following day Chris had a scan and we were told about the tumour by lunchtime. At the same time they told us he had four weeks to live.
"It's strange to explain, but we immediately felt relieved that they had found out what was wrong with him. But within a split second we went from a high to a low. It's like all your worst nightmares mixed up in one." Chris was immediately taken to theatre to relieve the pressure building up inside his skull, and four days later he had 99 per cent of the tumour removed.
He spent 41 days in hospital, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy to combat any remaining cancer.
His parents said he had remained incredibly positive despite permanently losing hair on the back of his head, and suffering kidney failure and hearing loss from the chemotherapy.
They have nominated him for the Little Star Appeal, an initiative run as part of Children's Cancer Month, in December.
Parents, families and friends are invited to recommend young cancer patients so they can receive special recognition for the bravery and inspiration they show while battling the disease.
Mr Harrison said: "Chris is doing well. Several scans have indicated he is currently clear of the cancer."
The Harrisons are now helping other children hit by brain and spinal tumours, through the charity O.S.C.A.R. -- Offering Support for Children and Relatives.
Converted for the news archive by Newsquest Oxfordshire Ltd.
