A teenager from South Wales has begun his third year of college, despite a devastating diagnosis of an incurable glioma more than four years ago.
Noah Herniman, now aged 19, was diagnosed with a low-grade glioma in March 2021 – along with neurofibromatosis (NF), a condition which causes tumours to grow under radiation, making radiotherapy unviable as a treatment.
The tumour soon impacted Noah’s ability to swallow, as well as his gag reflex, and chemotherapy led to neuropathy (nerve damage to the spinal cord), which forced him into a wheelchair. Despite these challenges, Noah has put his energy into making a change – earning recognition as Young Fundraiser of the Year 2023 at the Child of Wales Awards.
Now, the Chepstow teenager has now entered his third year of college, studying drama. Noah’s mum Shelley (above right, centre), said: “He’s living life on his own terms, refusing to let this tumour define him. Noah is now of the age where he can make his own decisions medically. He maintained he didn’t want any more treatment and wants to live his life.
“Children with brain tumours are too often overlooked when it comes to educational and disability support; they aren’t given the same considerations as those with other cancers. It’s unacceptable that, in 2025, we are still relying on decades-old treatments like chemotherapy as the standard. Our children deserve better. We need more research, more funding and more options, because right now, it’s simply not enough."
There’s still time to donate to our Childhood Cancer Awareness Month campaign, and help us continue the fight against paediatric brain tumours.
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