'Christmas miracle' boy receives national bravery award for fighting cancer

A Leicestershire schoolboy has won a national bravery award after survivingsurgery to remove a tumour half the size of his brain.

On Christmas Eve last year, Ceylian Bonnet Bocher’s parents called a priest to baptise him because they feared he wouldn’t survive surgery to remove an orange-sized tumour from his head.

The ten-hour operation was an unexpected success and, by Christmas Day, Ceylian was able to sit up in bed and open his presents.

Now the youngster, who will be four in January, has been given a Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens Star award in recognition of the courage he’s shown during the past year.

Mum Marina, who nominated Ceylian for the award, said:

Following surgery Ceylian was diagnosed with a rare type of bone and soft tissue cancer called Ewings Sarcoma.

He was able to return home on January 10 - his third birthday – before undergoing an intense course of chemotherapy which began in February.

But repeat infections meant that he was in and out of hospital constantly.

In May, Ceylian’s sister Lilwenn went to live with extended family in France while parents Marina and Damien took Ceylian to America for Proton Beam Therapy – a type of radiotherapy which precisely targets cancer cells.

Ceylian’s chemotherapy ended in September and, since then, family life has largely returned to normal.

Marine, from from Ashby de la Zouch, said:

Every year, around 105 children are diagnosed with cancer in the East Midlands.

The Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens Star award, in partnership with TK Maxx, celebrates the strength shown by young people who have been affected by cancer.