Emotional moment teen rings cancer bell after beating stage four brain tumour
The emotional moment a teenager rings a bell to signify the end of his brain tumour treatment has been caught on camera.
Luke Broadbent, 13, from Walsall, West Mids, was diagnosed with a stage four brain tumour after doctors initially thought his sickness was linked to a virus.
After undergoing 10 hours of emergency surgery to remove the mass, along with several rounds of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Luke was finally given the all clear last week.
To mark the amazing moment, Luke rang the poignant bell at Birmingham Children's Hospital on Tuesday [December 18].
The video, which shows the dedicated medical staff lining up as Luke walks down to the bell in front of his emotional family, has since gone viral, racking up 29,000 views on social media.
Mum-of-four, Donna Broadbent, 40, said: "It's the best Christmas present I could have ever hoped for.
"It has been an emotional rollercoaster since he was diagnosed and I haven't left his side.
"At first doctors thought Luke had a viral infection as he began suffering from crippling headaches and sickness.
"But in reality he was actually battling an aggressive brain tumour, it was such a shock.
"He has been through several sessions of radiotherapy, four cycles of chemotherapy as well as stem cell treatment.
"I was so proud of him ringing the cancer bell on Tuesday, it's such a miracle he's here.
"Luke has been so brave and we can't thank the staff at Birmingham Children's Hospital anymore if we tried."
Luke was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma after suffering weeks of exhaustion, sickness and headaches.
Donna added: "I took him to our local Manor Hospital A&E with his symptoms but the only test he didn't have while there for 10 days was an MRI.
"It was only after his sickness continued that he was readmitted on April 16 and he had the crucial scan which led him to be diagnosed with a brain tumour the day after.
"I had no idea it would be cancer, let alone stage 4, it completely devastated us as a family.
"His siblings, Kane Barratt, 18, Jack Broadbent, 15, and Zoe-louise Broadbent, 14, had never been away from their brother before.
“Luke’s half sister, Jodie Bryan,29 and half brother, Chris Brown, 27, have been amazing as well.
"We've lived in the hospital since his diagnosis as he needed such aggressive treatment.
"His hair fell out and he lost the hearing in his one ear as it was so harsh but we knew he needed it to save his life.
"Luke is such a fighter, I didn't tell him it was cancer at first as I didn't want to scare him.
"I would say there was a big ball in his head and that it was being treated.
"The doctor told him it was cancer as I couldn't face telling him, Luke cried but he soon got on with it.
"He has missed school since his diagnosis in April but there has been teachers coming around the wards every day."
Despite Luke being triumphant in beating his brain tumour, he still requires regular hospital check ups.
The full time mum added: "Luke will have MRI scans every three months.
"His blood levels still aren't right at the moment after all the treatment but we're hoping our visits will be less frequent in the new year.
"Luke is such a miracle and it makes me so emotional thinking about the last eight months.
"We really can't thank the hospital teams from the consultants to support coordinators enough for all their support, it has been fantastic.
"I hope other families going through something similar see that there is light at the end of the tunnel, Luke is living proof that you can get through it."
Watch the emotional moment below:
