Family were just three days into their Spanish holiday when the unthinkable happened
Maison Shaw, 18, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in January, with his family deciding to go on holiday to Spain after his treatment came to an end - but their trip was cut tragically short
The Shaw family, from Openshaw, a suburb of Manchester, were looking forward to a well-deserved break in Spain after a challenging year following the sarcoma diagnosis of their eldest son, Maison.
The 18-year-old had been diagnosed with this rare type of cancer, which can occur anywhere in the body, in January after he started experiencing cramp-like pains and a swollen leg, reports the Manchester Evening News.
After completing his tough treatment, the family decided to treat themselves to a trip to Almeria. However, their holiday turned into a nightmare when Maison, a car rental apprentice, began suffering back pain just three days into the trip.
His mum Zara, 37, initially thought he might have pulled a muscle while playing with his four-year-old brother Joel in the pool. But when Maison's stomach swelled and he lost all sensation in his feet, they knew something was seriously wrong.
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It was later confirmed that Maison had a collapsed lung and spinal compression, where pressure on the spinal cord stops the nerves from working normally. Tragically, tests revealed an extremely fast-growing mass that hadn't shown up on scans before the holiday.
While the family anxiously await confirmation, it's feared the cancer may have returned. "We don't get how this has happened so fast," said Zara, an NHS worker. "There had been no change to his scans, they were all fine. It grew so fast."
Maison first started experiencing cramp in his leg while playing a game with a friend on New Year's Eve 2023, despite being "Fit and healthy". His family became concerned when his leg started to swell, leading them to rush him to the hospital.
Despite initial scans and tests showing no cause for concern and the family being told it was likely just a cyst that would reduce in size over time, the boy's pain continued unabated. With medication providing no relief, his mother, a mum-of-three, decided to call 111 and was advised to head to A&E.
By this stage, the blood flow to Maison's foot had been affected, with doctors suspecting he had compartment syndrome, a painful condition caused by pressure build-up around the muscles. Emergency surgery was performed to alleviate the pressure. After the operation, the family were informed that surgeons had found and removed a growth, but it "didn't look sinister".
However, as he was recovering in the hospital, he was unexpectedly called for a CT scan, followed by an MRI. His mother said alarm bells began to ring at this point. "As his mum, I just knew something was wrong," she confessed to the Manchester Evening News. "I asked why but no one could tell me anything."
The boy was then diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare type of cancerous tumour that develops in the bone and connective tissues such as fat, muscle, blood vessels and nerves. Tragically, his condition is terminal, but it can be managed and contained with treatment. "The only word I heard was 'oncology' and I knew what that meant," his mother added.
The boy began his chemotherapy treatment at the end of January before proceeding to have radiotherapy.
After his treatment, the family jetted off to Spain for some much-needed downtime and it seemed all was well. Maison's scans were clear and doctors gave him the green light to travel.
Zara shared: "We were all so excited about going away. For the first three days of holiday, it was amazing. Maison loved relaxing and going in the pool. He was loving that he could have a pint now he's 18."
But the mood shifted when Maison playfully threw his younger brother into the pool, resulting in a sharp pain in his back. Zara recalled: "We thought he had pulled his back or his nerve was playing up," and continued, "He ended up staying in the room. The next day, he was in so much pain that we went to hospital."
Despite undergoing a CT scan and being sent back with just paracetamol, Maison's condition worsened to the point where he couldn't walk, leading to hotel medics administering steroids. After Zara noticed his stomach swelling, she called an ambulance and they were back at the hospital, where an MRI showed a collapsed lung and spinal compression. Devastatingly, Maison lost the ability to move his feet.
Following a successful operation to alleviate spinal pressure, Maison faces the reality of partial paralysis and uncertainty surrounding his ability to walk again. With flying off the table for the foreseeable future, the family prepared for a taxing four-day drive back to the UK.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Maison recounted his shocking diagnosis and harrowing journey: "I was shocked at the beginning. I just get on with it. This happening in Spain has been the most scary experience I have had to go through."
Determined to face his challenge head-on, he remarked: "I just want to get home so I can work on myself and hopefully regain mobility and get back to being independent. I used to do boxing and this is one fight I'm ready for."
In light of Maison's needs, a fundraising effort is now underway to support the family's return to the UK and cover necessary home modifications.
Zara shared her feelings about the situation: "I don't think any of this will sink in until we're home and safe," and admitted that she's staying strong for Maison but acknowledges: "This is going to be a long recovery. The GoFundMe is being used to get us back but also for adaptations that he might need."
To donate, follow the link by clicking here.
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