Surrey parents raise awareness of brain tumours after son dies from the disease

Dan and Jane Galleni noticed a problem when their baby boy, Max, had problems opening his left eye.

It later identified as a brain tumour and sadly, Max lost his life at just 10 months old.

The couple currently live in Cheam, Surrey, with their 10-year-old daughter.

Dan Galleni, 45, is a senior design manager who has taken part in regular fundraising opportunities – in honour of his son’s memory

Activities have included annual 300-mile cycle challenges and a recent golf day last year in aid of Brain Tumour Research, which raised £14,000 despite being unable to go ahead because of a flooded course.

Dan said: “We stayed for a few drinks and all the companies that were represented said to keep their entrance fees and, with the golf club not charging me for the day, that meant almost 100% profit.

“On top of that, one of the attendees asked how much I’d be happy to make seeing as the golf day hadn’t actually been able to go ahead and I said £5,000 so he wrote out a cheque for £5,000, bringing my total for the day to £14,000, which was amazing.”

Soon after Max was born in July 2015, his parents noticed a problem with his left eye not opening properly and appearing swollen and red.

A scan was carried out which detected a shadow on his brain, later identified as a brain tumour.

At three weeks old, Max was scheduled for a biopsy and debulking operation and given a week to grow and get stronger in preparation, with booster feeds used to get more calories into him.

He underwent four surgeries in his life, the first in August 2015.

His tumour was so aggressive that it grew back within 10 days.

Dan said: “A couple of weeks later we went back to Great Ormond Street Hospital and got taken into the ‘room of doom’ to be told there was really no hope because Max’s tumour was incurable and growing extremely fast with no option other than further surgery which was a risk to his life.”

Max had one more surgery before being moved to the Shooting Star House, in London, for palliative care, after which he appeared to get stronger.

Dan added: “We’d been told there was nothing more that could be done, but then Max got stronger and started being a baby.

“We even got him on solids at one point and sitting up in a chair; we took him swimming every day and I started thinking that the doctors could be wrong.”

Unfortunately, Max then developed further complications with his left eye which required a layer of tissue to be removed and caused suspected loss of vision.

His tumour started growing behind his right eye, causing it to protrude, and his parents were left pleading for medical intervention.

Dan said: “Jane and I had to sit in a room with the full team of consultants and argue our case to have the tumour removed before it pushed Max’s eye out.

“They operated for his comfort, which was a massive relief and then they stitched his eye shut to let it heal.”

Ultimately, Max’s brain tumour proved too aggressive, and he died peacefully overnight in his mother’s arms in May 2016.

Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Max’s story is absolutely heart-breaking and is a stark reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate, affecting anyone at any age, including babies and young children.

“We’re very grateful for the support of Dan and Jane as we remain committed to funding vital research into brain tumours to prevent other families from being torn apart by this devastating disease.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK.

It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.

To find out how you can support Brain Tumour Research, visit https://www.braintumourresearch.org/