A loving family has been left shattered after receiving the devastating news that their once vibrant, sporty 15-year-old son is battling an aggressive, inoperable brain cancer — a diagnosis that came with barely any warning.
It all began on a chilly January morning in Chelmsford, Essex, when Callum Stone suddenly collapsed under the weight of a severe migraine during school. His mother, Sarah, 41, and stepfather, Mark, 42, rushed to pick him up — only to find their usually energetic boy struggling to speak.
Fearing the worst, they sped to A&E, where, in a terrifying twist, Callum suffered three intense seizures right inside the family car. The panic was overwhelming.
At Broomfield Hospital, Callum was immediately admitted for a week-long series of tests, including CT and MRI scans. Initially, doctors suspected brain inflammation caused by a viral infection.
Relieved but cautious, the family watched as Callum was sent home on anti-seizure medication, reassured by the lead medic who believed he was “back to normal.”
But the nightmare was far from over. Callum was referred to London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for closer examination, where more detailed MRI scans would reveal the true, heartbreaking extent of his illness.
Callum Stone, just 15 years old and full of life, was suddenly confronted with a terrifying diagnosis after doctors discovered a tumour deep inside his brain — one that was spreading relentlessly, described by doctors as growing “like a cobweb.”
The scans revealed a large, aggressive tumour that shattered the family’s world overnight.
On February 5, Callum underwent a biopsy, and just six days later, the devastating truth was confirmed: he had a diffuse grade four glioma — one of the most aggressive and deadly types of brain cancer.
Grade four gliomas grow at an alarming pace, and tragically, only five to ten percent of patients survive beyond five years following diagnosis.
Reflecting on the moment they heard the news, Sarah, Callum’s mother, said: “It was utterly shattering. In a matter of hours, our entire world was turned upside down. Just a few months ago, we were a normal, happy family.”
The pain deepened when they learned the tumour was inoperable, its web-like growth intertwined with healthy brain tissue.
“Removing it would mean taking away too many vital healthy cells,” Sarah explained, struggling to find the words. “Trying to explain that to Callum and his younger brother was heartbreaking.”
Despite the crushing news, Callum showed remarkable strength. Mark, his stepfather, recalled, “He wasn’t thinking about himself. He smiled and hugged us, worrying more about how we were coping than about what lay ahead for him.”
Despite the devastating diagnosis, Callum is determined to fight back with everything he’s got. He’s thrown himself into exercise and healthy eating, determined to keep his body as strong as possible throughout the grueling treatment ahead.
In a cruel twist, early MRI scans failed to detect the tumour, and doctors initially sent him home with anti-seizure medication, assuring the family that everything “looked normal.”
But on February 14, Callum and his family traveled to University College Hospital in London, where he began an intense six-week course of daily radiotherapy.
By April 4, he had completed the treatment, and now the family awaits an MRI scan on May 5 to see how the tumour has responded.
“Callum went from a perfectly healthy boy — someone who had never even been sick — to taking multiple medications and spending days in hospital,” Sarah said, her voice filled with both pride and heartbreak.
Throughout it all, Callum has remained focused on his fitness and nutrition, with Mark noting that he’s been back in the gym over the past few weeks, pushing himself to stay strong.
“He’s been amazing,” Sarah added. “He’s exercising, keeping in touch with his friends, and doing as well as anyone could hope for under the circumstances.”
But the emotional toll is undeniable. Sarah shared, “There are moments when I’m away from the kids and I cry harder than I ever thought possible. Yet the moment I see them, I want to plan outings, visits with friends and family — they give me the strength to keep going every day.”
In a bid to explore every possible option, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for alternative cancer treatments abroad.
Callum is set to start ongoing chemotherapy next month, in tablet form, but Sarah explained, “For this type of tumour, there are no other treatment options available through the NHS.”
With hope in their hearts, the family are now researching potential treatments overseas — including a specialized clinic in Germany and clinical trials in San Francisco — determined to leave no stone unturned in Callum’s fight.
