Boy, 8, died WEEKS after ‘lazy eye’ was diagnosed as terminal brain tumour – after parents hid it from him

AN eight-year-old boy died three months after finding out his “lazy eye” turned out to be a sign of a terminal brain tumour.

Tom Gray had shown no other symptoms to make his parents Simon and Carly think anything was wrong.

Tom Gray died just a few months after being diagnosed with brain cancer

But an MRI scan just four days before his eighth birthday confirmed the youngster, from Victoria, Australia, had inoperable brain cancer.

He passed away 14 weeks later in 2016.

Dad Simon said aside from his lazy eye and failing vision, they had no reason to believe their son had cancer.

He told MailOnline: “There were no other symptoms. He was always doing something – a very active body and active mind.

We made the choice not to tell him. We wanted him to try to enjoy everything we threw up at him without the thought in his head that he was going to die

Simon GrayTom’s dad

“The only other thing, and we thought about this later on, was that his movement wasn’t as crisp as what it used to be.”

Mum Carly told Nine News: “He had the MRI and we got the phone call that day to say you’ve got an appointment with the oncologist tomorrow.

“We knew things couldn’t be good. But you still don’t anticipate that you’re going to be told there’s really nothing they can do.”

His parents decided not to tell Tom he had Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) following the devastating diagnosis.

What is Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)?

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma also known as ‘DIPG’ is the second most common type of primary, high grade brain tumour in children.

DIPG is a type of high grade brain tumour, which means it tends to grow quickly and is more likely to spread to other parts of the brain or spinal cord. They are sometimes referred to as being ‘malignant’ or ‘cancerous’.

DIPGs originate in an area of the brain, and more specifically the brainstem, called the pons. The pons is an area deep within the lower part of the brain which is responsible for a number of critical bodily functions, such as breathing, sleeping and blood pressure.

The cause of brain tumours, including DIPG, is not yet known.

The signs of a DIPG vary as the pons and surrounding structures (where DIPGs are located) are responsible for a variety of different body functions. A child with a DIPG may display:

Abnormal alignment of the eyes or/and double vision (diplopia).
Weakness of facial muscles or facial asymmetry (one side of the face appearing different from the other).
Arm and leg weakness.
Unstable balance and co-ordination.
Difficulties walking and speaking.

The standard of treatment for DIPGs is radiotherapy, which is usually administered over 3 to 6 weeks depending on the type of radiotherapy that is deemed best for your child (with a daily dose given Monday to Friday). Your child might also be given steroids during this period to help reduce some of the pressure caused by the tumour and radiation treatment.

Source: The Brain Tumour Charity

Simon told the broadcaster: “We made the choice not to tell him. We wanted him to try to enjoy everything we threw up at him without the thought in his head that he was going to die.”

In his final days, he managed to play a couple of games of football and was made captain of his friend’s boat for a day.

They are now helping raise awareness about childhood brain cancer with a unique art exhibition at Kyneton Hospital, with portraits of Tom from birth to death adorning the corridors.

The collection by artist Daniel Butterworth includes one striking painting of Tom lying peacefully in his casket.

Carly admitted she finds the image difficult to look at.

Fighting back tears, she said: “It still doesn’t sit comfortably with me. I look at it and feel physically ill.

“It’s not something I’m comfortable with at all, but I figure if it tugs at someone’s heart-strings, if it makes people a little more aware, if it spreads the word about the statistics of paediatric brain cancer, then there’s something good that can come from it.”

All funds raised from the exhibition will go towards Cure Brain Cancer Foundation’s mission to improve five-year brain cancer survival to 50 per cent by 2023.

The youngster was never told he had cancer and lived out his final days doing what he loved

Aside from a lazy eye, Tom never showed any other signs he might have cancer

Carly and Simon Gray chose not to tell Tom he had an inoperable brain tumour

Artwork by Daniel Butterworth shows Tom in his casket after he died of cancer

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