Remembering the bravery of James (From Croydon Guardian)

Remembering the bravery of James

11:42am Monday 30th December 2002 in

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In January, James Haddad was diagnosed with a "diffused intrinsic pontine glioma", a cancer which is located at the centre of the brain and cannot be safely operated on.

James' father Robert told the Croydon Guardian: "Some brain tumours are operable and with radiotherapy, doctors can sometimes extend life by up to 20 years.

"Unfortunately with James' type, the diffused element and location makes it impossible to operate."

Located at the brain stem, the tumour affected James' senses, causing double vision, poor balance and eventually loss of speech and movement.

Robert said: "We didn't want the word cancer' used, as James was a very clever boy and it would have killed his morale." Therefore all James knew of his condition was that he was very ill and had a "nugget" in his head.

Mother Sue said: "It definitely improved his quality of life and allowed him to remain a very happy boy right to the end."

Throughout his ordeal the St Mary's Junior School pupil remained an inspiration to those around him, retaining his incredible sense of humour, and enduring his treatment without complaint.

After an initial course of radiotherapy, the Haddads were told nothing more could be done, but they undertook their own internet research and found pioneering treatments available in the United States.

The James Haddad Appeal was set up to fund treatment abroad and several fund raising events were held in Croydon, but James was eventually prescribed two pioneering combinations of cancer drugs, not previously available in the UK.

With the aid of dietary supplements in 36 daily tablets, James bravely fought the condition for a further eight months, before dying in his parents' arms.

Robert said: "That James outlived most others with the same condition shows that the steps we took had a positive effect."

The appeal currently stands at over £45,000 and will now be used to fund research, treatment and education about James' condition.

The Croydon Guardian will bring you more appeal news next year, when it is hoped a permanent charity will be set up. Many thanks for your support.