THE father of a five-year-old boy with an inoperable brain tumour today spoke of his hope for the future after an amazing two weeks at a revolutionary clinic.
John Mark Riding, a former Lancashire Evening Telegraph Baby of the Year, has captivated staff and other visitors to the Hufeland Klinik in Germany with his fighting spirit.
He went there for treatment with parents John Riding, of Blackburn, and Jacqueline Sanderson, after doctors in England said there was nothing more they could do for him and the tumour, which is on his brain stem, was not responding to treatment. His family have been able to travel to Germany for the treatment, which could prolong his life, thanks to funds raised for the John Mark Riding Fund by Lancashire Evening Telegraph readers and well wishers in Blackburn and in his new home town of Redruth, Cornwall.
His father, John, said the change in his son after just two weeks was incredible.
John, who used to live in Darwen, was given just months to live after the tumour was diagnosed in November.
But today his father said: "John is doing exceptionally well. The change in him is absolutely unbelievable. It really is."
When the family arrived at the clinic in Bad Mergentheim, near Stuttgart, doctors there said it was likely John could lose his left arm, which had become lifeless, due to the tumour attacking his brain. He was also struggling to use his left leg.
But, thanks to the drug treatment and combination of physiotherapy, reflexology and a change in diet -- plus lots of perseverance and hard work by John and his parents -- he is now walking more than two miles a day, can kick a football, and is even managing to draw with his left hand again.
He has had to overcome some big hurdles, including getting over his fear of the needle used to inject his daily treatment. He now asks to watch.
The clinic is owned by Dr Wolfgang Woeppel, a leading cancer specialist.
John's treatment there, which is experimental and not available in Britain, is a combination of drugs which aims to change the metabolism around the tumour cell and change the tumour cell into a normal one.
The doctor said: "I think that I can confirm the impression of John Mark's father and mother. The positive progress is evident to everyone who saw the child when he arrived.
"In the case of John Mark Riding we may have hope of curing him completely; but at the moment it is too early to judge the positive progress finally."
The family expect to stay for a further six weeks, and in three weeks time John is to have an MRI scan, which will reveal whether the tumour has responded to treatment John said. "The doctor here is saying that because of the response that John has given, it is looking very much like the tumour is not an aggressive tumour.
"The important thing here is that we are doing something, and John has to work for himself. Fifty per cent of the treatment seems to be in his mind."
They now need to raise several thousand pounds to pay for the six weeks of treatment and the scan and are hoping generous Lancashire Evening Telegraph readers will dig deep to help again.
"If it wasn't for the money that people had raised, we wouldn't have been able to come here," he said. "We are going for the eight weeks of treatment, because that is what seems best, and we will pay for it somehow."
Although the family are delighted by his progress, they know they still have to take one day at a time, and know the treatment is not a miracle cure. But they are becoming more hopeful for the future.
To donate to the fund, or stage a fundraising event, contact 01254 580827.
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