A grieving couple, whose two-year-old son died from a brain tumour a month ago today, have shared their heartbreaking story as they spend their first Christmas without him.
Toddler Albie Bayliss-Watts was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive brain tumour in December 2020, after suffering with violent sickness. On 10th December an MRI scan revealed a mass the size of a tennis ball on his brain and, within hours, Albie was undergoing emergency surgery.
Albie’s surgeon managed to remove 99% of the tumour, but when the biopsy results came back, Albie’s parents, Lauren and Hayley, were given the devastating news that the tumour – so rare it couldn’t be identified – was high-grade and aggressive. Albie underwent gruelling surgeries and chemotherapy to try to control the disease, but tragically nothing could save him.
Albie died on Sunday 28th November, with his loving mums by his side.
Hayley said: “Towards the end, we were almost willing him to let go because he was so helpless and wouldn’t want to be like that. But in those final moments, having given him permission to go, we were desperate for him to hold on. We were so conflicted. Nothing in this world can be as painful as losing a child.”
Now, Hayley and Lauren are keeping Albie’s memory alive by supporting research into brain tumours, in the hope that no other family will have to suffer like them.
Lauren said: “Hayley and I are grief-stricken and can’t bear the thought of Christmas without our beautiful, funny, courageous baby boy. Focusing our attention on raising awareness and fundraising is giving us some comfort in these extremely difficult times.”
Our thoughts are with Lauren and Hayley, and all those who knew and loved Albie, at this very difficult time.