Tay Kurtul died from a brain tumour (Image: Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)
A little boy tragically died from a brain tumour after his blurred vision and fatigue were initially attributed to exhaustion from after-school activities. When Tay Kurtul, six, informed his mum Laura that his vision was blurry, an optician appointment revealed everything appeared normal.
Nevertheless, he began to develop additional symptoms – including stomach pain, weariness and heightened emotions. Laura, 38, believed he might simply be worn out from all his after-school activities until the youngster became unsteady on his feet. He was referred for scans at hospital, following which Laura and husband Toygun received “every parent’s worst nightmare”, reports the Mirror.
Tay, from Broughton Astley in Leicestershire, had a growth on his brain. An MRI revealed it was a medulloblastoma – a brain tumour – and less than one year later, Tay has passed away despite receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Laura said: “After an impossible decision as parents, we decided to stop all chemotherapy… as the toxicity going directly into his brain was making Tay so poorly, resulting in early stages of dementia.
“We all knew the progression was taking over and it was no longer fair on Tayl to keep fighting. His little body had been through too much. We will never find the words to describe how we feel after losing Tay.
Tay’s symptoms started with blurry vision (Image: Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)
“There is no fixing this pain and we now face an indescribable journey of survival. When you lose your child, the world becomes a different place and everything looks grey. Tay touched so many hearts with his joyful soul and he taught us the true meaning of love.”
Following his diagnosis in May 2023, Tay underwent a gruelling seven-hour operation to remove 99% of the tumour. However, the surgery led to posterior fossa syndrome (PFS) – a collection of neurological symptoms that can occur from such procedures.
Tay was left unable to sit up, walk or eat, and he suffered visual problems and lost the ability to speak. Despite undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the tumour continued to progress and tragically, Tay passed away on February 9, 2024.
Now, his heartbroken mother Laura is determined to raise awareness of the symptoms of brain tumours, having initially believed her son was simply exhausted.
Reflecting on the devastating diagnosis, the self-employed laser specialist mum recalled: “My husband, Toygun, and I were told the unimaginable – every parent’s worst nightmare – that they had found a mass in Tay’s brain.
Laura and Toygun with their son Tay Kurtul (Image: Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)
“I remember not being able to feel my legs when we were told the heart-shattering news and the paediatrician’s voice seemed so far away. It felt as though it was just me in the room and I was screaming inside, but totally numb on the outside, although shaking with fear. It was a moment which will haunt me forever.”
Tay first experienced blurred vision in May 2023, a symptom that alarmed his mother, Laura. She recalled: “I picked Tay up from school and on the way home he said ‘mummy, sometimes when I look at things they go blurry’.
“Then, during football training, Tay ran over to me and said he had a headache, which was surprising as he’d never complained of one before.
“I told him to sit and have a rest and a drink. Five minutes later, Tay was off to join in with the team again. But since that first headache, as the days went on, Tay started to show more concerning symptoms like waking up some mornings feeling sick and having a tummy ache.
“He could also be quite emotional and felt tired even after a full night’s sleep. He just wasn’t himself. I started to question whether he was taking on too much with all his after school clubs, play dates etc. Maybe he was just exhausted and needed a break from all his activities?”.
However, the young lad was actually suffering from a mass on his brain and became one of approximately 52 children diagnosed with medulloblastoma in the UK in 2023. This is the second most common brain tumour in children, but it is far less common in adults.
Patrick Howlett, whose granddaughter Emily was Tay’s best friend, has now completed a 177-mile walking challenge to raise funds for brain tumour research. The 65-year-old pub landlord, known as Paddy, led a team which raised £4,000 for Tay’s Tribe, a fundraising group under the umbrella of Brain Tumour Research.
“We are so grateful to Paddy for raising awareness and funds for better outcomes for children and adults diagnosed with brain tumours. Paddy is our lovely landlord, with Tay and Emily enjoying the sweetest friendship ever since they met in the reception class at Hallbrook Primary School in Broughton Astley,” Laura added.
Tay’s mother is hoping to raise awareness of brain tumour symptoms (Image: Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)
“From baking cookies in her kitchen to building secret dens in his garden, their days together have been filled with giggles, silliness and the kind of joy only true childhood friends can bring – a simple, pure and beautiful bond, a little love story.”
Ashley McWilliams, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are deeply grateful to Paddy, Mary and Tim and everyone supporting Tay’s Tribe for their incredible efforts.
“Our Centres of Excellence bring together world-class researchers who are committed to understanding the complexities of brain tumours and developing more effective treatments.
“Every pound raised helps us sustain this critical research and brings us closer to finding a cure. Without increased investment, we risk losing the momentum we’ve built in uncovering the breakthroughs patients and families so desperately need.”