Family of 11-year-old Cooper Foster say there have been some encouraging signs in his mobility since treatment ended, although they are still looking at possible further therapies – including a drug trial and treatments not available in this country. A fund established to make life easier for the poorly youngster is now closing in on the £12,000 mark and some of it is going towards what his aunty Cathy Foster calls a “man cave” at his Hindley home: a modified outhouse which will allow for some privacy for Cooper who is unable to get upstairs. And more fund-raising events are being held in the weeks ahead to boost the total further, including both a bingo night and race night.
Life had been going normally for Cooper as he finished his time at St Benedict’s Primary School earlier this year. But before he could begin enjoying his summer holidays and starting at Ashton St Edmund Arrowsmith High, he began feeling unwell, with neck pain and numbness in his fingers, he attended several doctors appointments, and then went to A&E for multiple scans. Unfortunately a tumour was found in Cooper’s spinal cord.
An operation removed most of the growth but, devastated family were informed that Cooper had DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma): a rare and incurable condition with an life expectancy of between seven to 11 months. But those around Cooper, including his mum Louise O’Gorman and dad Mike Foster (who is having his own health struggles) say they will do everything poss.
