Charity challenge for Barnsley mum a year on from heartbreak of toddler son’s death

Nicole Harrigan, aged 26, from Goldthorpe, Barnsley, is taking on the 10,000 Steps a Day in February Challenge to raise vital funds for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

Her son Sylas died from a grade 4 medulloblastoma brain tumour a year ago.

Nicole, who grew up in Barnsley, said: “My husband Nils and I first thought something might be wrong with Sylas in October 2019, when he was 17 months old.

"He was usually such a cheerful baby but we noticed that he was barely smiling or laughing any more. We thought, at first, he may have been teething. He was also struggling to settle at night, which wasn’t like him.

“Then we noticed that his balance was off and he was also being sick. It wasn’t long after he had had his jabs, so we wondered if it was a reaction to that.”

Nicole and Nils, who were living in Chesterfield, were given various diagnoses.

Nils finally managed to get a referral to see a paediatrician at Chesterfield Hospital, who admitted Sylas to hospital immediately.

The following day a CT scan found a golf ball-sized tumour on Sylas’ brain.

Nicole said: “We were in complete shock. I couldn’t understand how this could be happening to our precious baby. An ambulance came to take us to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, a journey which seemed to take a lifetime.

"When we got there, we were told that Sylas would need emergency surgery the next day, due to a build-up of fluid on his brain.”

Sylas had several operations but he suffered serious brain damage in the process.

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Nicole and Nils brought him home in November 2019, knowing that he didn’t have long left to live. His condition deteriorated last February and he had to go back to hospital.

Nicole said: “We knew Sylas was coming to the end of his life. We stayed with him all day, cuddling him, telling him we loved him and singing to him. At 8.45pm (his usual bedtime) on Friday February 21, he took his last breath. Our hearts were broken.”

Nicole said of the challenge: “It will be really poignant, as it will be one year since Sylas’ death. I’ve always enjoyed walking but haven’t done much recently, so this will be motivation to get out of the house and do something positive.

"I’ll be joined by my friend, who lost her nine-year-old cousin to a brain tumour. As always, my husband and absolute rock, Nils, will be supporting me.

"He was the one who first pushed for a referral for Sylas and he has been incredible throughout all the heartache we’ve suffered. He is amazing and means so much to me.”

She added: “I feel that this challenge is something that I can still do for Sylas, having been stripped of my motherly duties and looking after him.

“More investment is desperately needed to prevent more families from going through the same devastation as us. Sylas would have been turning three in May.

"He was the most perfect little boy and I’m so proud to be his mummy. I’m doing this for him; my superhero.”

Nicole’s fundraising page is at www.facebook.com/donate/707502160157135

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