'Doctors told me it was just growing pains. My gut instinct was right all along'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

For weeks, Mason Payne kept complaining of pain in his legs – but his mum Lauren was repeatedly told not to worry. Doctors kept telling her it was likely down to growing pains but she knew deep down something wasn’t right.

When the youngster’s agony became unbearable one night in November 2023, the worried mum decided to take him to A&E. Initially suspecting sepsis, doctors carried out blood tests and the family were told to go to Manchester Children’s Hospital a few hours later.

But sadly, more bloodwork revealed devastating results – Mason had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). Lauren, from Eccles, can recall the moment she was given the devastating news. “We were shocked,” she told the Manchester Evening News. “It just shattered my world.

I couldn’t believe it. My little boy has that? It just can’t be possible. “The doctors were talking to me, but I was just zoning out.