A seven-year-old 'little fighter' and 'superhero', Lenny Jax, sadly lost his life on April 5 following a battle with cancer. The youngster suffered from glioblastoma, a grade four brain cancer, for two years. Now, Lenny's heartbroken mother Sophie has courageously spoken up to highlight the symptoms of the brain tumour, which can often be dismissed as a mere viral infection or bug.

Hailing from Stockport, Lenny endured chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and an experimental drug from America, which weakened his bones, but he stayed strong and 'never complained'. His health issues began manifesting as headaches and vomiting in September 2022. Lenny also started showing signs of lethargy and found it difficult to get out of bed. The gravity of his situation came to light during what was supposed to be a routine eye examination.

Following that appointment, he was urgently whisked away for critical brain surgery at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. This marked the start of his family's struggle, reports the Manchester Evening News. Mum Sophie recounted: "He had started getting headaches and was being sick in the mornings. He couldn't get up in the mornings and was exhausted."

She added: "He had an eye test at school and they noticed his vision wasn't what it should have been so we were referred for another eye test but was told it could be at least six weeks, so I booked him in privately.

"They noticed the nerves at the back of his eyes were swollen. We went straight to Stepping Hill Hospital for a CT scan, where they found a tumour the size of an adult's fist on the right side of his brain.

"We were then sent to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for surgery on his brain. It had been just a straightforward eye test and within a few hours he had been taken to surgery. It was the worst 12 hours of my life."

The majority of the tumour was successfully removed and subsequently analysed. Tragically, within a mere two days, the family received the most heart-wrenching news.

Mum Sophie said: "They told us it was grade four glioblastoma. It was incurable. With it being so aggressive, the doctor's words were that it was going to be tricky to fight, and that they didn't think he would live longer than 12 months.

"It was terrible. Nobody can prepare you for it. You never think something like this would ever happen to you or your family. He had just been being sick, then two days later we were told he didn't have long to live. As a parent you just go into fight or flight mode. We were told there was nothing they could do."

Cancer Research UK describes a glioblastoma as a 'fast growing type of brain tumour'. All glioblastomas are classified as grade four, which denotes their rapid growth and malignant nature.

Two weeks post-surgery, it was discovered that Lenny had a brain leak, leading to another operation and the insertion of a shunt, which delayed the start of his radiotherapy, Sophie explained.

She further revealed that Lenny underwent daily rounds of radiotherapy for six weeks, during which he had to be anaesthetised; this led to a rapid weight loss. He also received chemotherapy and started 'feeling sick and miserable' due to the impact of the treatment.

Within a few weeks, his platelet count also plummeted, necessitating an emergency hospital admission for a critical blood transfusion. Despite the seriousness of his condition, Sophie says she never fully disclosed to Lenny the extent of his diagnosis, allowing him to maintain his cheerful childlike spirit.

In the summer of 2023, a scan revealed that the chemotherapy had ceased to be effective - and that the tumour had regrown, necessitating another life-saving brain surgery.

However, the family were given a glimmer of hope when it was determined that Lenny was eligible for a drug trial from the US. Sophie stated that he was the first child in the UK to receive the drug, which extended his life by 12 months and caused the remaining tumour, which couldn't be removed, to shrink.

Despite this, the side effects included making his bones so fragile that he easily broke his femur and fractured his ankle within a matter of weeks.

"We got told he was on end of life care and that there was nothing else they could do," she explained. "But then we were told he qualified for a drug trial from America due to a mutation he had.

"He was scanned every three months, and the tumour that was left had massively shrunk. But with him being a guinea pig essentially, it made his bones so brittle.

"But, we got another 12 months with him. Without it, he would've lost him much sooner. It was only in January this year that a scan showed that it was like a firework had gone off in his head and there were speckles of the disease everywhere.

"The doctors came to the decision that there was nothing else they could do. We stayed at home with him for as long as he could, and took him everywhere he wanted to go, but he slowly got worse with the sickness and headaches.

"I couldn't be prouder to be his mummy".

Lenny was readmitted to hospital in mid-March when another tumour was discovered at the back of his neck. Subsequently, he was moved to Francis House Children's Hospice in Didsbury for end-of-life care, where he tragically died on April 5.

Sophie continued: "He spent his last week there. The staff were absolutely amazing and made it so much more bearable. It had been two-and-a-half years of non-stop medication. I can't thank them enough.

"The Wednesday before he died we took him out for fresh air, and he was playing Minecraft on his PlayStation. His body deteriorated and he closed his eyes. Within two days he stopped breathing."

Lenny earned the nickname 'Lenny the Lion' due to his unflappable nature, according to Sophie. "He never complained about anything. He was constantly so happy and thankful he was here. He was a little fighter. A true superhero."

Following Lenny's passing, his mother Sophie shared a heartfelt tribute on social media: "Our beautiful brave super hero Lenny Jax has gained his angel wings in the early hours this morning. Words can't describe the heartbreak we our going through now.

"The only thing that is sitting right with me is he is no longer in pain. No more hospitals, no more drugs, no more being told he isn't allowed to do what little boys should be doing.

"He battled this awful disease with everything he had and I couldn't be more prouder to be his mummy ... you rest now my sweet angel .. love you always and forever."