Ten-year-old pays touching video tribute to his mother, who is living with incurable cancer
To celebrate the courage and resilience of his cancer-afflicted mother, a ten-year-old boy decided to make a heart-felt video that is winning the heart of the internet.
Ben Sandeman from Hastings wanted to pay tribute to his mum Ann, who is unsure about how much time she has in her hand amid her battle with an incurable cancer. Doctors have told her on two separate occasions that she must start getting her affairs in order.
Ann has endured eight bouts of chemotherapy over 10 years, and her options have narrowed down as the tumor has attached itself to the arteries around her heart. Despite this, the mother-of-three is trying to maintain "normality" for the sake of her children. With the help of the video, Ben wanted to show the world how strong Ann has been throughout her journey.
The video starts with Ben praising his mother and stating how "proud" he and his two older sisters are of their mother," as reported by Daily Mail. Ben says in the video that cancer might have taken a lot from his mother but that does not stop her from doing what she wants. "She loses her hair sometimes, but us kids and other people think it makes her look strong… her cancer doesn't stop her from doing anything," he can be heard saying in the video.
He also added that his mother makes sure that she is involved in all the fun and adventures the entire family plans. "She goes on holidays with us, she goes on water slides with us. All of us are helping to beat my mum's cancer. We always comfort her and give her a rest. We all are very proud of her," he said.
Ann, 47, has had a difficult and long journey with cancer but she has made sure that it doesn't bring down her strength. She was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer whilst she was 12 weeks pregnant with Ben. "My mum has been sick for my whole life. When my mum first had cancer I was in her womb, she was very ill. The doctor said I might have breathing problems, but I think I'm good!" Ben continued.
Ann decided to start her cancer treatment during her third pregnancy. She had a lumpectomy at 14 weeks and chemotherapy soon after. During this, Ann was warned her baby would be premature and likely to have severe breathing problems. Despite this, Ben was born on his due date in February 2008, without any medical problems, either then or since. However, in 2011, Ann discovered that her cancer had spread.
The tumor had attached itself to the arteries around her heart, so surgery wasn't an option. This meant that there was no method for treating her cancer. She is currently undertaking her eighth and what could be her final go at chemotherapy. Despite this, Ben, along with his sisters have always put on a brave face and made sure that they are there for their mother. He and his sisters have taken part in five Race for Life events.
"All of us are helping to beat my mum's cancer. We are all very proud of her," Ben further noted in the video. Meanwhile, Ann added, "The very first time I took part in Race for Life I was pregnant with Ben and blissfully unaware that very soon after, I too would be diagnosed with cancer. The kids do it every year and love it, especially Ben who always races round the course. They know they are making a difference in beating cancer, for me and all those affected by it."
Ann further added that seeing the video made her happy about having her children by her side during her fight with cancer. "Having this video tribute from my children means the world to me, I am so very proud of them. They keep me positive and ready to take on whatever this disease has to throw at me," she said.