'Tom never knew that he was dying': Boy, eight, tragically dies just three months after his 'turned eye' was found to be a symptom of a terminal brain tumour
- A father has spoken about losing his eight-year-old son to brain cancer
- Simon Gray and his wife Carly's son Tom was diagnosed with a brain tumour
- Tom, who had a turned eye and failing vision, died just three months after
A devastated father has spoken of the 'unbearable grief' he suffered after his son's 'turned eye' was found to be an inoperable brain tumour that ultimately took his life.
Simon and Carly Gray, from Victoria, tragically lost their eight-year-old son Tom just three months after he was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2016.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Simon said that the diagnosis left he and his wife suffering 'instantly unbearable' grief both mentally and physically - but they were determined to be there for their little boy until the end.
A devastated father has spoken of the 'unbearable grief' he suffered after his son Tom's (centre) 'turned eye' was found to be an inoperable brain tumour that ultimately took his life
An MRI scan confirmed that Tom, who had symptoms of a turned eye (commonly known as a 'lazy eye') and failing vision, had an inoperable brain tumour in 2016.
'It just stops your ability to breathe. The physical impact on top of the mental grief that you feel is instantly unbearable,' Simon said.
Simon said that he and Carly were never in a state of denial as Carly's mother Jenny had passed away from brain cancer in 2006.
'Carly's mother passed away from a very different brain tumour 10 years earlier, so when they (doctors) said brain tumour, and then they told us it was a brain stem brain tumour and that it was inoperable, there was no denial,' he said.
Simon revealed that despite Tom's heart-breaking diagnosis, they had made the decision to not mention the words 'brain cancer' in front of their son.
'We made the choice that both him and (Tom's) brother Ben, who was only 17 months old at the time, would never know that he was dying,' he said.
'We wanted to go and do everything he told us he wanted to do, without him having this thought that he was dying.'
Aside from a turned eye and failing vision, Simon said there were no other symptoms that made himself and Carly believe that something was seriously wrong.
Tragic death: An MRI scan in 2016 confirmed that Tom (centre), who had symptoms of a turned eye and failing vision, had an inoperable brain tumour. He died just three months later
'There were no other symptoms. He was always doing something - a very active body and active mind.'
'The only other thing, and we thought about this later on, was that his movement wasn't as crisp as what it used to be.'
The couple said they had an amazing final few months with their son - enjoying family holidays and beach days with friends and family - before he died just 14 weeks after his diagnosis.
Simon and Carly are raising money for the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, and have collaborated with award-winning artist Daniel Butterworth.
Daniel has produced a series of paintings detailing Tom's life from a newborn, to a healthy child, his illness and his death.
'We wanted to go and do everything he told us he wanted to do': Simon revealed that despite Tom's heart-breaking diagnosis, they had made the decision to not mention the words 'brain cancer' in front of their son
Another loss: Simon said that he and wife Carly were never in a state of denial, as Carly's mother Jenny (pictured) had passed away from brain cancer in 2006
The exhibit, Tom's Life, opened Thursday March 7, at the Campaspe Family Practice in Kyneton, Victoria, with proceeds going to the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.
Simon said that Daniel has captured his late son's essence beautifully.
'The paintings that Daniel did when Tom was pre-cancer, and when you see those, there's your boy, it's just there with you,' he said. 'Daniel has captured his essence beautifully.'
'As you progress through the work, all of those moments come straight back to the fore.'
The exhibit is open until Thursday March 14 at the Campaspe Family Practice, Kyneton, Victoria.
Raising funds: Tom's brother Ben (left) has helped raise more than $50,000 at Walk4BrainCancer events since Tom died in 2016
