Frazer Clayton, a brave young lad from Lincoln, faced off against a formidable brain tumour in surgery the day after his 12th birthday celebration. Having initially experienced seizures at the age of 11, medical professionals initially suspected epilepsy. However, an MRI scan painted a different picture, revealing a stage three Ependymoma tumour. ‘The seizures began last September, starting in his left leg, eventually engulfing his entire body. Epilepsy was the suspected culprit, but it wasn’t to be,’ shared his mother, Jo Clayton, a local florist. The Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham verified the tumour’s cancerous nature through a biopsy. Post a successful operation that removed a whopping 99% of the tumour, Frazer celebrated Christmas and his birthday at home before returning to hospital for the operation. His mother shared, ‘There was a small remaining piece that couldn’t be removed, for fear of causing severe nerve damage. Upon rechecking with another MRI, we discovered that the remaining portion had nearly disappeared due to cut-off circulation. It was the best possible outcome.’ Despite the successful removal of the ‘fierce tumour’, Frazer still had to undergo six and a half weeks of radiation therapy, which he is set to complete next week. The treatment, coupled with the surgery, posed a challenge to his school attendance, but he’s hopeful to return soon. A resilient Frazer is now doing splendidly, keeping his spirits high with Lego sets and dirt bikes. ‘He’s got a slight limp, but that pales in comparison to what could’ve happened,’ Jo added. In solidarity with Frazer, who’s experiencing hair loss due to the treatment, Jo has opted for a similar haircut, raising a whopping £2,660 for Young Lives vs Cancer in the process. Her cut hair was donated to the Little Princess Trust on Mother’s Day, raising an additional £200. ‘The Young Lives vs Cancer charity has been a godsend since his diagnosis, assisting financially, providing emotional support, and gifting Frazer things to look forward to like his Lego set,’ Jo gratefully shared.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk.
