A MUM who took her young son to hospital thinking he needed glasses has been told the five-year-old has a brain tumour and has just months to live.
Stephanie Downing thought little Daniel was suffering problems with his eyesight – only to be told the devastating truth last week.
Tests had revealed that Daniel had a type of brain cancer known as pontine glioma, The Plymouth Herald reports.
After being referred to Derriford Hospital by his opticians the youngster, who lives with his mum and older brother in Plympton, Devon, had an MRI scan.
Doctors now say schoolboy Daniel – who was rushed to a specialist unit in Bristol to start chemotherapy – has just nine months to live.
Family friend Biffy Lynch – who has started a JustGiving page for the family – said: “Steph was concerned about his eyesight. She thought he needed glasses.
"She took him to the opticians and then they referred him to Derriford.
"He had an MRI scan last Thursday and that is when we found out."
Biffy hopes to raise £6,000 for the family so that they can stay with Daniel during his treatment.
She added: “Sadly and oh so very suddenly, Daniel has been diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer called pontine glioma. Survival is averaged at 9 months from diagnosis.
"To make this terrible situation even harder for the family, the treatment to give him the longest life possible, and to allow time for some extra special memories to be made, has to be administered in Bristol, some 200 miles away from the family home.
"Daniel is the most amazing five-year-old 'young man' you could ever wish to meet. Full of life, mischievous, polite, intelligent, innocent, and above all, loving. He is adored and cherished by his mum Steph, his dad Robbie, his brother Jack and Steph's partner, Ady."
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Stephanie's partner Ady Crayton said she was trying to be strong to support Daniel.
He said: "We have discussions with oncologists at some time today and Steph is being very strong.
"She is very much of the attitude that there are things to get on with."
Biffy added: "They are currently on a waiting list for accommodation at the hospital but they have nowhere to stay at the moment.
"For all the stress that they are going through they shouldn't have to worry about finances.
"They need to be in Bristol with Daniel for the next six weeks as he starts chemotherapy and as he continues his treatment."
"They are trying to make him better for the little time he has left."
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