Published: Wednesday, 18th June, 2008 13:00
School boy’s brave fight against cancer
By Colin Hutton
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FAMILY: Jack with sister Amy and mum Jennifer
A BRAVE primary school pupil is dreaming of meeting Mickey Mouse as he continues to battle a life threatening illness.
Jack Whitelaw was diagnosed with brain cancer on his sixth birthday, in February, and has since undergone surgery to try to remove the tumour.
But the disease was already so advanced that doctors could not remove it and the St Ninian’s Primary pupil now faces almost a year’s worth of chemotherapy as he fights for survival.
The diagnosis came as a massive shock for single mum Jennifer Murray and has left her attempting to deal with the devastating news as well as being there for Jack’s twin sister, Amy, who has been left confused by what is going on.
Jennifer, from Drumchapel, told the Post: “After Christmas Jack had been sick in the mornings now and again and kept complaining of a sore back and tiredness.
“I kept going to the doctors but kept getting told it was just a virus.
“And then just before I took him to Yorkhill he had had a really bad headache — to the point that he was crying — so I took him in and they found the tumour.
“I was totally shocked and just could not believe it was happening.
“I knew that something wasn’t right but never expected news as devastating as this.
“He needs 24/7 care now because he’s on a feeding tube and because of the surgery his balance and speech has been affected.
“He needs me all the time and for me to try to save enough time to give back to Amy is difficult — it’s affected us all.
“When Jack first went into hospital, it was for three months and was the first time that Jack and Amy had been apart overnight and Amy kept asking where he was.”
Now thanks to Jennifer’s friend Carolanne Davis, the community has been rallying round to raise as much money as possible to try to send the family to Disney World, in Florida, once the treatment is complete.
So far a massive £2,500 has been raised and they are holding a charity night on Friday, for which the tickets are already sold out. Carolanne, from Knightswood, said: “It will be good to get them all away as a family, especially to America because the kids have always wanted to go there.
“I’ve put posters up everywhere and we want to thank everyone for all their support so far and hope that it continues.”
Jack starts his 48-weeks of intense chemotherapy on Friday, leaving Jennifer to take life one day at a time.
She said: “There’s been days when I’ve done nothing but cry but on those days I’ll suddenly get a card or an email that will keep me going. But I can’t fall apart because Amy and Jack need me.
“I lie in bed and picture me, Jack and Amy on a beach with them smiling and happy, with no more hospitals or doctors.”
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