‘How would you feel if your son asked you to take some of his pain?’

A mother of an eight-year old boy who passed away a month ago after succumbing to cancer recounted to Illum how Puttinu’s constant psychological and financial support were crucial while her son battled against cancer since the age of three.

Valerie Ruth Scerri said that Puttinu’s pledge to ‘focus on the boy while we take care of everything else’ gave her some peace of mind in a very difficult period.

Her son Jacob was diagnosed with cancer at the age of three, and even though she was assured that he had a 90% chance to be cured, cancer resurfaced two months after finishing chemotherapy for the first time and had to be sent to the UK where he underwent a bone marrow operation.

After a break of two years, Jacob’s family received the unwelcomed news that Jacob had to be diagnosed with cancer for the third time and underwent another surgery and more months of intensive chemotherapy.

To move forward you have to stop asking why and make the most of each and every day. Valerie Scerri, Jacob's mother

“At that stage Jacob started realising that something was wrong. We were desperate because our son was in pain and we could not do anything to relieve it from him. How would you feel if your son asked you to take some of his pain? When he asked me that, I could feel my heart crying and breaking,” Valerie says.

While in the UK, an oncology consultant told them that Jacob was lucky to have arrived so far and that should the cancer reappear, no further treatment could save his life.

As a result, when in February 2012 a brain-tumor was discovered, the family decided to live the remaining six months of Jacob’s life predicted by professionals in the best way possible.

“At that point Jacob was fed-up of constant therapy and hospitals, where he spent half his life. We decided not to take the professionals’ offer to try and prolong his life by some months with more chemotherapy. We made the right decision because Jacob wanted so much to live that he continued to live for thirteen months rather than six.”

She says that during these five years she became closer to God and believes that it was only faith who kept her from collapsing under the pressure.

Valerie is now looking forward to shift her attention to her second son and live life “before reuniting with Jacob”.

“To move forward you have to stop asking why and make the most of each and every day. This is what we have, we can’t change anything about it, let’s make the best out of it,” Valerie concludes.

Valerie now repays Puttinu by lending a helping hand where possible, while her husband served as committee member for the past two years.

Read more in today’s edition of Illum.