Schoolboy in 'miracle' crash wants to thank driver

A schoolboy whose malignant brain tumour was discovered in a scan after he was knocked over by a car says he wants to thank the motorist.

Liam Taylor-Kennedy, eight, of Victoria Road, Wombwell, was knocked over while cycling on Lundhill Road and, although he escaped with only minor bruising and grazing to his head, doctors became concerned when he appeared to show lapses in his memory.

As a precaution, he was given a CAT scan, which revealed a dark patch on his brain.

An MRI scan revealed the patch to be a tumour.

Symptoms are severe headache, loss of vision and vomiting, but because Liam had never displayed any, mum Sharmane Kennedy, 24, said it was a 'miracle' he was knocked over when he was.

"Doctors told us if it had gone unnoticed for another couple of weeks he could have lost the use of the left hand side of his body or had a stroke.

"Liam actually said he wanted to send a card thanking the person who knocked him over but we haven't got round to finding out who it was yet."

Liam has undergone a seven-hour operation to remove the tumour and now he is being flown to Florida for proton beam treatment, which is not available in this country, as an alternative to radiotherapy.

But although the cost of the treatment, accommodation and flights for Sharmane and Liam is being paid for, they will still have to pay for food and other living costs for the eight weeks he will receive treatment.