Visitor #532

This week we have also welcomed a young man and his family from Somerset. Whilst I have had the pleasure to meet them their son prefers to stay anonymous. Today they sent some photos of their son driving a tank in the cotswolds today. We hope they have a lovely break and wish them all the best 💕

At 15 my son was a keen army cadet, his dream to join the army as soon as he was able, then in October 2023 everything fell apart as he was diagnosed with soft tissue cancer with a growing tumour at the base of his spine and nodules spreading in his lungs and soon he was wheelchair bound.

Three days later a theme that would follow in the next three years began, as he got himself ready in uniform and attended the remembrance parade in our home town, his life had changed irrevocably but this was not going to stop him.

Nine months of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and proton beam therapy followed, still attending cadets as much as he could, initially he could not manage school but as his GCSE’s came nearer he began to attend the hospital school in London where he also sat his exams.

In June 2024 his treatment finished, the cancer was diminished, however he knew that should it return it would be incurable. He then started a catering course, still attending cadets, rising in the ranks.

There followed 12 months where he was free to enjoy life until in June 2025 he was confronted with the horrific news that his cancer had become active once again and there would be no cure.

His treatment began with an operation that resulted in complications where his pain became unmanageable, his spinal tumour was pressing on his central nervous system and an infection caused the pressure to build. The infection turned to sepsis and we thought we were watching him leave us, but he pulled through and re entered chemotherapy which is still where he is 12 months later.

But since it returned and living with an active cancer he has undertaken a L3 catering course, finishing with a Merit outcome, he has completed his gold DofE including the expedition, he rose to the rank of regimental sergeant major in cadets representing his whole county, he won shooting competitions, entered every national cadet competition he could and undertook the physically demanding Master cadet course which only around 1% of cadets achieve.

Almost most important, he has shown himself to be a kind, devoted, loving partner to his girlfriend.

I have not named him as he has always treated his disease as something private, has never asked for concessions, never wanted to be defined by his disease and always just shown us strength when we have been weak.

Thank you to Ben Saunders Foundation for this much needed break away