Harvey Burrows from Bridgwater in Somerset was first diagnosed with an ependymoma brain tumour at just 22 months old.
After 12 years in remission, his family was devastated to learn that the cancer had returned in 2025. Now 14, Harvey continues to inspire those around him with his courage, determination and unwavering spirit.
Here is Harvey’s story, as told by his mum Tara...
Harvey has had cancer twice, both brain tumours. He was first diagnosed at 22 months old in 2013. I was a first-time mum and it was horrific. Harvey is my first born, I had his brother Harry later, so this was all new to me and I did not know what was going on, but I knew something wasn’t right.
I was told 11 times that he had an ear and viral infection. I kept taking him to the GP because he was sleeping more than usual, not eating, and he looked poorly, like he was in pain. Harvey was born with beautiful olive skin and he started losing his colour and became very pale.
All the doctors kept giving me was antibiotics. I trusted that the GP knew what was wrong with my son.
By our 11th appointment we went back again because he was no better. By the time we got home Harvey deteriorated badly and I had to dial 999. I remember the paramedics saying they had seen this before and he needed to go to the hospital immediately. I was petrified. I didn’t know what to do and turned to my mum, who was a magnificent support.
Harvey was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. They checked his observations and a doctor saw something in Harvey’s eye, so ordered a CT scan straight away.
I remember the doctor asking me what I thought it was, and I said, “My son is going to die, isn’t he?” They told me that if they didn’t get him to Bristol in the next hour, I would lose him.
They gave Harvey an MRI scan and diagnosed him with a grade four ependymoma, which they said was curable. He was only 22 months old, just a baby. I was scared but relieved that something could be done. They operated immediately for 15 hours and removed the tumour. The wait was traumatising. I kept asking the nurses if they had heard anything. It was the longest wait of my life.
When Harvey came out of surgery it was scary. At that point we didn’t know what type of tumour he had because it had to be analysed. Harvey then had to undergo two more surgeries, for drainage and then have a shunt fitted. For a 22-month-old, he went through so much, but he was so resilient.
It was really tough. People kept asking me how I was managing it, but I just had to keep going.
Harvey then had 31 sessions of radiotherapy. It was very hard for me as a mum because I had Harry as well, who was under one year old. It was a very scary time. I always got my strength from Harvey. No matter what he was going through, he was so active. Even after his radiotherapy sessions, he wanted to play and go to the park. I had no energy, but he always had so much fight.
Harvey was in remission for 12 years and went into aftercare, so we thought all was well, but we were dreadfully wrong.
In July 2025, I lost my mum. She was such a huge support and that really hit us hard. Then Harvey told me he was feeling dizzy and sick when he woke up each morning. My first thought was that he needed to get checked. I took him to the doctor and they said it could be grief from losing his grandmother. They couldn’t see it being the tumour because he had been clear for 12 years. But again, I knew something wasn’t right.
For my peace of mind, they gave Harvey an MRI scan, and within two hours of being home we got a phone call to say Harvey had another mass on his brain.
I was heartbroken and terrified for my boy, who is only 14.
I lived in hope that it would be the same tumour as before because we knew the process. We had got through that and he had beaten it.
We were asked to go to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. The hospital acted really fast and Harvey had a biopsy, which took seven hours. They managed to remove a big part of the tumour, but because it is diffused, it is not just in one area. Harvey stayed in hospital for five days and recovered very quickly. Immediately after the operation he was up and walking and wanted to go home. His strength is phenomenal – he is so inspiring.
We went back to the hospital the following day for the results. It was very scary and I knew from the phone call the news wasn’t good.
Then I heard the words, “Sorry, it’s not curable this time.” It was devastating.
Harvey was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioma. He refused to have radiotherapy. I gave him the choice because he had so much radiotherapy as a baby and has a lot of scarring on his brain. With the chance of him becoming brain damaged, it was important the choice was his. Harvey chose to have quality of life rather than try to lengthen his life. It is his life, and as much as it breaks my heart, he needs to choose how he spends the rest of his days.
Doctors gave Harvey a prognosis of months. I asked if I would still have my son for Christmas 2025 and they couldn’t tell me. When 25th December rolled around, it felt like a miracle that he was still with us.
Harvey has developed a stutter, and a recent scan showed results that were not good and that the tumour has grown. He is going to be 15 in April and our focus is on celebrating his birthday.
Harvey loves LEGO. I can see his hand shaking when he tries to put the pieces together, but he still gets out of bed every day with a massive smile on his face.
Since we have been told, he has not shed a tear. He is so strong. Harvey is my world, and every time I look at him I feel so proud of the young man he is.
He is a huge football fan. His favourite teams are Liverpool and Bristol City. He has had to stop playing football, but he has huge support from his local team and we have such a big support network around us, it is beautiful. He has been to Bristol City ground and I can’t thank them enough for all they have done for him.
Now, we just take each day at a time.
No parent should have to go through this. There is not enough research into these awful brain cancers and more needs to be done.
I enquired about taking Harvey to Germany for immunotherapy, but I was told by our oncologist that he was too young and it wasn’t the best treatment for him. I feel like everything I suggest gets turned down.
It is so wrong that people are having to fund their own treatments in other countries because they are not available in the UK. Treatment and access to clinical trials shouldn’t depend on what country you are born in.
I am scared for Harvey and my other two children. Harry is 13 and Bailey is 9. Harry and is struggling. Harvey is all he knows, and he has needed counselling to help him through.
I don’t want to lose my son.
Harvey has a great sense of humour. He is a man of few words but has cheeky side to him. He’s a great kid.
Harvey is currently on chemotherapy, but he is so strong. We are starting to see a change in his personality and he is very tired during the day.
Every day is a blessing for us and I want Harvey to have the best memories of the time he has left, so I have started fundraising so that I can give him the experiences he deserves.
During Brain Tumour Awareness Month, Bridgwater Town Hall was lit up on Wear a Hat Day on 27 March in honour of Harvey. I will also be fundraising this year to raise vital funds for research and encourage everyone else to get involved.
Doctors have now told us there are no more treatment options left for Harvey. He’s had his final scan, and now we’re in that place no family ever wants to be, just waiting. All we can do is hope and pray that Harvey gets to see his 15th birthday on 19 April, and in the meantime, we’re focusing on making as many special memories together as we possibly can.
Tara Burrows
April 2025
One in three people in the UK knows someone affected by a brain tumour. This disease is indiscriminate; it can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, brain tumours continue to kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, to date, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002.
Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this.
If you have been inspired by Harvey’s story, you may like to make a donation via www.braintumourresearch.org/donate or leave a gift in your will via www.braintumourresearch.org/legacy
Together we will find a cure.
