Determined Dan in aid of Leeds Cares is raising vital funds to support children and their families who are suffering with brain related injuries at Leeds General Infirmary.

In April 2014, aged ten years old, Daniel Morton was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

After an 11 hour surgery, the tumour was successfully removed. A week later, we received the devastating results that the tumour was a high grade cancer and Daniel was given a terminal diagnosis.

After applying for a clinical trial, the research company said that they disagreed with the diagnosis; they thought Daniel’s tumour was very low grade. Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital also tested the tissues to assist in a confirmed diagnosis, and they disagreed with both previous pathologists and thought the tumour was borderline low and borderline high grade. Due the different opinions of diagnosis, Daniel’s care plan was to watch and wait and see what happened with future scans.

In November 2014, Daniel had a second tumour removed. This one displayed low grade features and again the plan was a watch and see programme. After having two years of clear scans, in September 2016, Daniel was told there was another tumour and was to undergo further surgery remove this. This surgery has left him with severe side effects, causing some damage to his nerves and issues with mobility on his right side. Daniel has now taught himself to write and draw, a passion of his, with his left hand. A testament to his resilience, determination and character.

Daniel had another two years of clear scans and again, in August 2018, he was told that he had another tumour and had surgery for the fourth time in November 2018.

Throughout Daniel’s journey, we have spent many days and nights on the wards at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI). We have experienced the distress that our children go through while staying there. Some of these patients’ treatments are gruelling and aggressive. We have experienced the costly hospital stays and understand the strain families are faced with; emotionally and financially, when a child is diagnosed with an unexpected long term illness.

Determined Dan wants to help make life easier for those that have to go through this. We want to help improve the facilities on the brain injuries ward at the LGI for children who are undergoing treatments for brain injuries. We want to help fund new equipment, improve the facilities and help improve the environment of the unit to aid recovery.

We understand that cancer doesn't just affect the patient, it has a massive impact on the families too. We want to help to support families whose children are being treated at the LGI by providing financial support to assist with costs incurred by lengthy hospital stays.

We also want to be able to support the fantastic work that the Neuro team does, whether this be a piece of equipment that will make tasks easier for the nursing staff, or funding sponsorship so these amazing consultants can learn new ground breaking techniques.

Daniel is still fighting his own battle, but he is determined to beat cancer, determined to raise awareness and determined to help others. Thank you for supporting the team.

Keep up to date with Daniel’s journey by following #determineddan on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Leeds Cares - registered charity 1170369