Ill schoolboy given 'best Christmas ever' after being told it will be his last

A terminally ill schoolboy has been given a Christmas to remember after his home was turned into his very own Santa’s grotto.

Reece Probert, who was diagnosed with a rare and inoperable brain tumour at the start of the month, has celebrated the festive period in style after his house was decorated from top to bottom.

The 11-year-old from Wombourne has a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG - a primary, high-grade brain tumour found in children - and was told this Christmas would be his last.

But in an effort to put a smile back on his face, friends and family helped to turn the family home into the youngster’s own Lapland.

The outside of the house on Birch Hill Avenue was covered in lights and tinsel with a couple of inflatable snowmen guarding the door.

While inside the house the living room was turned into the family’s own grotto, with the added touch of wrapping paper covering the walls.

Overwhelming

His mother, Jenna, said: “The neighbours came up with this great idea, which is amazing.

“It really looks effective, it looks like a little Santa’s grotto and that’s what he wanted.

“I cried when I saw everything. I was alright when I was outside but when I walked inside I just cried, it was night time and everything was lit up, it was just amazing, I burst into tears.

“Reece was like ‘oh my God’, it was a shock, there was loads of people here, some of his school friends, neighbours, it was overwhelming.

“The grotto took just over two days to put up, we helped on the Saturday and on the Sunday our neighbour said ‘go out and don’t come back until we tell you to’, and then we got the phone call saying it was all done.

“People were gathering in the street all ready for us to come back, we drove around the corner and they were booming out the song Simply The Best out of the cars, we pulled up and it was just magical.

“It looked amazing.

Community

“There’s that many people that have got involved, we had an electrician come round and make sure all the electrics were safe, it was amazing.

“The whole community has really come together and we’ve only been here since February, it was amazing for people to come together and support us like that.”

After the news of Reece’s illness a number of family and friends pulled together to raise more than £11,000 to give him the best possible Christmas.

Jenna added: “Having family around us is what we need to make it an extra-special Christmas.

“The main thing is spending it together and enjoying it and making memories.

“We always keep a positive attitude – keep strong, keep fighting, we have to be.”

Money can be donated to the family by visiting www.gofundme.com/reeces-wishes.