A mum of a teenage footballer from Benfleet, who is battling a rare brain tumour, is desperately trying to raise £100,000 to "save her son's life."
Oscar Fairs, 14, was diagnosed with a 7cm ependymoma brain tumour in August 2023. He has undergone more than seven surgeries to remove the cancerous lumps.
Recently, the Benfleet teen has been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation as part of an International Society of Paediatric Oncology clinical trial that started in January.
He had four months of chemotherapy through an imported pic line into his heart, followed by six weeks of radiotherapy.
Tragically, Oscar's trial failed after results showed that the cancerous cells had multiplied.
His mum, Natalie, 41, says surgeons will no longer operate on Oscar, as the risk is too great.
Desperate to save her son's life, Natalie has turned her attention to the medulloblastoma European multitarget metronomic antiangiogenic trial offered in France.
Oscar has been accepted onto one of the MEMMAT trials in Lille and is set to begin in the next few weeks. However, he needs to raise £100,000.
Natalie said: “We are so relieved that he has got a trial. I reached out to 22 cities that hold this trial.
“I have gone with the nearest to where we live as we need to put more money into saving Oscar's life. It is called The Oscar Lembert Center, so it's 'meant to be.'
“We have been told the UK can only offer palliative care. I need to save our son's life but our country has given up.
“The UK has done everything they can but they won't take the risk.
“I need someone willing to be a superhero just like Oscar and work their magic to remove it.
“I couldn't accept what they told me. I need everybody and everyone to get on board with me here to save my son's life.”
The MEMMAT trial can potentially halve the size of "everything" and then a surgeon can take over.
For eight months before his diagnosis, Oscar's family was told his symptoms were mental health-related. He was referred to the child and adolescent mental health services.
Oscar, who plays for the West Ham's U14s team, received counselling but things only got worse. Natalie "had enough" and demanded answers.
The youngster was seen by a GP who, to Natalie's shock, said Oscar had a migraine and suggested "putting him in a dark room for four days without his phone," she said.
Shortly after, Oscar was eventually diagnosed with a 7cm brain tumour when Natalie demanded an MRI scan.
Natalie added: “I believe every child up to a certain age should be given a mandatory MRI scan to save more lives.
“I believe someone is accountable for the eight months beforehand where Oscar's tumour was diagnosed as a mental health issue and migraines.
“I provided them with five or six symptoms in May 2023 and yet they didn't give us a scan.
“The doctor, who eventually took him to his unit, was speechless when I told him it had been eight months before we were finally seen for a brain MRI.
“They reckon the tumour could have been in his head for two years before that.
“I have to be grateful that we have the NHS as where would I have got the chemo and radio from, as well as the surgeons, paediatric oncologists, and radiologists? Indeed, it hurts that it took eight months as they are supposed to be the professionals.”
To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/5vqtt-save-oscars-life
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel