Being in jail means you've done something bad. It does not necessarily mean you are bad. It doesn't mean you are irretrievably wicked and have somehow abandoned any thoughts of humanity.
It can mean happenstance, life's chances and bad decisions have ended you up in Guys Marsh Prison. It doesn't mean you can't recognise a fine young man, who but for the role of the dice, might have been your son or your brother.
We can all identify a sturdy sapling on the way to becoming a stout oak. Athletic and tough, hansom, like his Dad. A flowing auburn mane, the image of his beautiful Mum. Porcelain and granite, angelic and mischievous, enquiring, adventurous and fearless. A prodigy, a wonder and a star in the making.
This joyous boy, full of life and hope and promise is dead. After three relapses, seven goes at holding on, life finally slipped from his grasp. A brain tumour, damaged brain tissue, seven goes at saving him. A drain and a gismo planted in his head.
A medulloblastoma, the most common paediatric, malignant, primary brain tumour.
He knew he was dying. Mature beyond his years, in a TV interview he said; 'I'm kinda stuffed but hey, you can't win them all'.
He spoke candidly of his treatment, casually of chemotherapy, calmly about relapse and nonchalantly of secondaries. This junior Indian Jones journey was to become a lost cause.
His mum says she feels sad and guilty she didn't spot the signs earlier. She knows about meningitis but not the equal 1 in 600 risks of this cancer. How would she? Who does?
This boy, DD to his friends, David Langton-Gilks, had an undiagnosed brain tumour. It the forest of confusing signs and symptoms, recurrent vomiting and headaches, the obvious became the not so obvious. Whose kids don't throw up now and then; complain of a headache now and again. It's now and again and again that is the warning.
Head Smart is a growing campaign and aims to make families and family doctors more aware of the symptoms. There is a web-site, have a look. If you run a practice you can have some free leaflets. You can follow on Twitter @sachaLG and for a mobile app of the symptoms Text SMART81400 for a free down load.
Can we get the leaflets into every school, one in every school bag, on the kitchen table of every home and a plie in every waiting room? Can we get the free App on the phones of the mums and dads at the school gates? With your help, I think we could.
Speaking about the campaign, shortly before he died, DD said; 'That's cool'.
Have a good weekend.
