A ‘kind and gentle’ little boy who died from a brain tumour is continuing to inspire others to fundraise to help other children like him. Riley Roberts from Shepton Mallet was just six-years-old when he died from a rare brain tumour in November 2012. Riley was first diagnosed when he was just five years-old, with medics telling parents Tuesday and Alex he was unlikely to make his sixth birthday.
Mum Tuesday first took Riley to the doctors over Christmas 2011 after noticing he had become wobbly on his feet. “I took him to the doctors expecting them to tell me he had an inner ear infection," she said. “But they sent me straight to Yeovil Hospital where scans and tests revealed just a few weeks later that Riley had a rare brain tumour.
They told me that there was nothing they could do for him and he would be unlikely to make his sixth birthday. It all came as a huge, huge horrible shock.” After learning about Riley’s diagnosis, the couple were referred to Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) Charlton Farm children’s hospice in Wraxall.
“Initially I didn’t want to go,” said Tuesday. “He was my son, my baby, and I wanted to care for him myself.” The family, including Riley’s younger sister Tallulah, first visited Charlton Farm in March 2012.
“We stayed for a week and it was amazing for us as a family. Over the following months as a family we were supported by Charlton Farm. Just knowing they were there at the end of the phone was such a comfort.
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