In August 2017, my gorgeous youngest son developed a tremor in his hand. Hard to believe that 10 days later, Josh and myself, were taken by ambulance to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Surgery followed, then 6 weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A further 8 months of chemotherapy to try to buy time. At the age of 15, to be given a terminal diagnosis is not something, as a parent, you ever expect. To be told your child has 12 - 18 months to live is beyond comprehension.

In August 2018, Josh got accepted onto a clinical trial in New York. This bought him time and quality of life. Myself and Josh travelled to New York every 2 1/2 weeks for 6 months and then as the protocol changed every 6 weeks until the start of the pandemic. When the pandemic hit options were taken away.

As the pandemic progressed, without treatment options so did Joshua’s tumour. He lost ability to speak, swallow, became paralysed and blind, all the while being fully aware of his predicament. He died, at home, in February 2021 aged 18. Two months shy of his 19th birthday.

Josh was fun, witty, caring. He loved playing rugby; played football and cricket for school. His passion was drama and he had an amazing voice. Joshua’s ambition was to become a human rights lawyer, but as his disease progressed he realised that this was unlikely.

He wrote in his end of school year book that he “wanted to raise awareness and funding for Brain Tumour Research”.

So here we are as a family and friends, wanting to fulfil his wish.