Brave baby who survived giant brain tumour celebrates first birthday at Leeds General Infirmary

It was discovered that Roux Owen, who turns one on Thursday, had a brain tumour the size of two oranges when he was just a baby of four weeks old.

Following eight major brain surgeries at Leeds General Infirmary to save his life, the tumour was completely removed in an operation last month and he was beginning to recover at his home in Hull.

But Roux was rushed back to hospital last week after the stunt in his head, which removes excess fluid to reduce brain swelling, had become infected and blocked.

Roux underwent emergency surgery to remove the shunt and was put on antibiotics to clear the infection.

It's hoped Roux will have another operation on Tuesday to replace the stunt, so he can return home to his parents, Antony and Amy, and three-year-old brother Noah.

Antony, 32, said: “Considering everything he’s gone through, it’s quite fitting that he’s spending his first birthday in the place that saved his life.

“We’ve got him back now, he’s back to his old self just with a shunt coming out his head! He’s such a cheeky little boy, he’s always laughing and giggling.

“He has the right to be a miserable child after all he's been through, but he’s the happiest boy in the world. He’s a joy to have.”

Antony and his wife Amy have been astounded by the support they've received from people in Yorkshire and all over the world.

They suggested sending birthday cards to Roux's hospital ward to make his day special, after supporters asked how they could help.

"The support has been amazing, at no moment through this journey have we ever felt alone," Antony said.

“People find him an inspiration and by seeing that support materialise in something like a card, we hope that one day we can sit him down and tell him what happened, show him how special he is to still be here and how much love was shown to him from people across the UK and the world.

“It's a positive memory to show him, not just the scary scans and the charity work.

“If we’re able to spend his birthday surrounded by cards and gifts at the ward, it will really help him in this final hurdle and give us all a lift.

"He's had the most difficult start to life but his birthday should be the start of a new beginning for him and for us - things should start to go back to normal."

Roux's family and friends have raised an incredible £30,000 for Leeds Cares, the charity arm for the hospital they feel so indebted to.

They vow to continue their fundraising efforts to thank staff for saving Roux's life.

Antony added: "We cannot thank the staff at LGI enough, particularly in the early days in intensive care and the high dependency unit.

"We were offered palliative care at Christmas, but the surgeon must have seen the determination in Roux's eyes to live and he didn't give up on Roux.

"That conversation now feels so far in the distance because of what the surgeon has done.

"When you’re there you almost don’t feel like you’re in hospital - we feel so loved. There are really special people in the NHS."

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Laura Collins