Lyle Cornet, 10, was diagnosed with an optic pathway glioma in 2016 – and his parents, Lyndsey and Tjay, were told they would only have him for another year.
Lyle is fighting a double brain tumour(Image: Edinburgh Live)
A Scots mum is fighting to make as many happy memories as possible as her son battles a life-limiting double brain tumour.
Lyle Cornet, 10, was diagnosed with an optic pathway glioma in 2016 – and his parents, Lyndsey and Tjay, were told they would only have him for another year. The youngster, who has three brothers, has been on and off treatment since receiving the heartbreaking news and has underwent years of chemotherapy.
The family, from Loanhead in Midlothian, say they are now “running out of options” as they try to do everything they can to keep Lyle with them for as long as possible. Mum-of-four Lyndsey said Lyle is her “sidekick” and the thought of losing him is “terrifying”.
The 33-year-old told Edinburgh Live: “Back in 2016, we were told the tumour was life-limiting. At three months old, he had shaking eyes and when we went to the doctors they sent me straight to the hospital. When we did a scan, it showed the tumours were on the brain and since then it’s been all go. It was a very distressing time. He was very limp and couldn’t do anything. He started taking seizures and at some points, he would stop breathing.
“His bravery has been amazing throughout all of this. He has been deteriorating since summer. He had an MRI on Tuesday and we have since been told one of his tumours has went from stable to active again. Lyle is completely life-limited and the chemotherapy that Lyle has been given isn’t going to cure the tumours or take them away.
“Every minute is special right now. We honestly don’t have a clue what could happen with the tumours, we just know we are running out of options. We are doing everything that we can to keep him with us as long as possible because we don’t want to lose time with the wee man.”
Lyndsey has been working as a full time carer for Lyle for years and said the situation does take its toll – adding that the family feel like they are “fighting a losing battle”.
She said: “Lyle is my wee sidekick – he has been since day one so the thought of not having him with us is terrifying. We knew this time was going to come but it doesn’t get any easier. Right now it’s just all about making memories.
“We are emotionally tired and drained. His dad and I are just finding things so hard. I have been a full time carer for years but bills need to be paid too. We feel like we are fighting a losing battle but we find the strength every day to battle on. He goes to Saltersgate School in Dalkeith and has nurses on site. They have seen such a difference in him too and everyone is so concerned about him.”
A fundraiser has been launched to help the family raise money to make as many memories as possible with Lyle. They hope to take a trip to Disneyland and have said the support they’ve received over the years has been amazing.
Lyndsey added: “Right now, Lyle is very tired and a very confused little boy. He is struggling right now. He struggles with sore heads and is really confused. He has a wheelchair but you have to keep an eye on him 24/7. He just really is not great right now.
“We just want to enjoy as much moments as we can with him. We hope we can get to Disneyland with him so he can enjoy his time there. We just want to say thank you to each and every person who is following Lyle’s journey and to everybody who has kindly donated in some way or another.
“Without your help or support, the plans for our family would be non-existent. Being a parent to a child that has cancer is so hard. I just hope that I can promise Lyle a happy life.”
To donate to the fundraiser, click here.
