Today Laura and Stuart, Joe’s Mum and Dad, are telling his story.
“Our son, Joe Turner, was inspirational. He was determined, strong, kind, clever, funny, witty, sporty, thoughtful, generous and happy. Everyone always said how much fun they had with Joe, what a joker he was, the silly things he did to make them laugh and that whatever he was going through, he lit up the room with the brightest of smiles.
Joe loved life.
On 28th December 2020, Joe began suffering with a severe headache that wouldn’t go away with painkillers. His symptoms worsened and on 30th December he was blue lighted to Harrogate Hospital with suspected meningitis. After a CT scan we were given the devastating diagnosis that Joe had a brain tumour and he was rushed to the LGI for emergency life saving surgery. We were un-able to travel with him so had to say our goodbyes in Harrogate and follow to the LGI separately then wait for him to come out of surgery. The next day an MRI revealed that the tumour had started in his Thalamus and also spread. The Thalamus is inoperable but they removed what they could of the rest of it on New Year’s Day 2021.
By April, following the multiple surgeries and 30 sessions of radiotherapy over 6 weeks, Joe was able to return to school as well as football training and kickboxing, just as he turned 17. Due to missing so much time at school Joe had to switch two of his A level courses to AS courses and he achieved an outstanding A* in IT.
In August 2022, after two further scans over a period of 12 months that indicated that the tumour had shrunk, our worst fears were realised as we found out that the tumour had started to grow again. Joe endured a further 10 sessions of radiotherapy followed by eight months of chemotherapy. This seemed to hold the tumour at bay but sadly once again it started to grow. They switched Joe to a more aggressive chemotherapy but sadly the tumour didn’t respond. The chemotherapy was stopped and it was confirmed that nothing more could be done for Joe.
Joe was then referred to the St Gemma’s community team. Their medical consultants and community nurses would visit us regularly to talk through everything and provide us with support at this truly devastating time. We talked about medicines and symptoms but also about Joe’s goals – and football, skiing, kickboxing and dogs! He always enjoyed a laugh and joke with St Gemma’s physio Sam too.
Joe wanted to enjoy his last precious months “being a normal teenager” and the St Gemma’s team did everything they could to support him in doing just that.
As the months passed by, Joe’s illness worsened and on a family break Joe became ill and had to be taken to the hospice. Joe had planned a lads night the following night but nothing is too much at St Gemma’s and upon hearing us talking of cancelling the staff pulled out all the stops and welcomed Joes friends into the conservatory with Domino’s pizzas and beer so Joe could enjoy having a laugh and a joke and just being a teenager with his mates for the night.
Joe was really close with our dog Isla and we would take her to visit him, where she would jump up and sleep on his bed. On one occasion she even paid a visit to another patient who also loved dogs!
Despite a constant stream of visitors during his 5 nights at the hospice Joe was desperate to be at home. The staff did all they could to make his time there be the best that it could be under the circumstances and respecting Joes wishes the team did everything they could to get him home. Once home, Joe passed away peacefully only 24 hours later but in the place he wanted to be and surrounded by his family. For that, we are truly grateful and we can’t thank everyone enough.
Joe fit so much into his life to try and make the most of what time he had. He was a huge music fan and it was a dream come true for him to meet the British rapper Stormzy. The pair spent time together on two occasions and became good friends; Joe’s infectious personality and charisma left its mark on Stormzy and he paid tribute by attending Joe’s funeral.
We’ve seen so many people also paying tribute to Joe in their own special way. 5 Star Fitness, the gym Joe trained at until only a couple of weeks before he died, held a 24-hour fundraising day in his memory raising an incredible £5,121 for the Hospice. They described him as a brave and fearless young man and now want to put on their fundraiser every year as an annual event in his memory. Thank you to them and to everyone who is continuing to support us and fundraise in Joe’s memory, including the hundreds of individuals who attended Joe’s funeral, donating over £1,500 to the Hospice.
Joe’s time with us was too short, but his impact was immeasurable. He was loved more than he could ever know and his friends and family are so proud of the strength and courage he showed. Everywhere he went, in every walk of life, people loved him, he made an impact on their hearts.”
