Our brave Tom is free from pain at last, says heartbroken mother
It was a long-fought battle that he faced with courage. But today Tom Blakemore's devastated family paid tribute to the teenager after he lost his battle with cancer, and said he is now finally free from the suffering.
The 13-year-old was given the all-clear from the rare form of cancer behind his face after receiving pioneering cancer treatment in America three years ago and was determined to get back into school in Cradley, near Halesowen.
The youngster was then faced with the devastating news that the cancer had returned. And, after a brave fight that saw him undergo a gruelling course of chemotherapy, he tragically died at Acorns Children's Hospice on Sunday.
Today, his mother Jayne, aged 41, said: "It is a very difficult time for everyone right now – the only thing we live on is that we know he is now free of the pain he suffered so much up to his death."
Tom received proton therapy in America in 2010 – a year after his first diagnosis with the rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. It was inoperable because of its position between the skull and the spine.
He was given the all-clear after the treatment in the US and was able to meet some of his favourite celebrities, including attending the Master Grand Final in Birmingham alongside Ian Rush, Lee Sharpe, Matt Le Tissier and Paul Merson in 2010. But doctors then broke the devasating news in November last year that a scan had revealed the cancer had reappeared in exactly the same place.
Mrs Blakemore said: "After the scan found the tumour again, we tried to keep Tom at school as long as we could – he remained there until Christmas before going for treatment. You can only receive radiation treatment once and, as he had received it before, he was left with chemotherapy."
Tom also leaves behind his father Simon, aged 42, and three brothers Callum, 18, Jack, 16, and Kai, nine.
The family are organising a funeral for Tom at Holy Trinity Church in Old Hill on November 25 at 11.30am.
Before the service a cortege will pass his former schools, Windsor High School and Colley Lane Primary School.
The family have asked for donations to go to Acorns Children's Hospice and Timmy's Trust, a charity helping children with cancer.
