A 14-year-old boy has died after doctors allegedly dismissed his headaches as "teenage migraines". Max Hall passed away on Saturday, August 8, after losing his battle with a high-grade glioma he was diagnosed with in November last year.
Headaches dismissed for over a year
The teenager had been suffering from persistent headaches for around a year, but his parents claimed doctors just sent him home with painkillers. Just six days after his 14th birthday, he suffered a severe seizure and was rushed to hospital and placed on life support.
Max, of Corby, Northamptonshire, was later diagnosed with an untreatable Stage 4 brain tumour. Tributes have since poured in for Max after his heartbroken parents announced his death over the weekend.
Family's moving tribute
His family said in a moving statement: "There are no words big enough for the heartbreak we feel. No words that can possibly explain what it is like to lose our beautiful son, our boy, our everything. Max was loved so deeply, so fiercely and so completely. And that love will never end."
They added: "Max will continue to be loved by every single person whose life he touched. By his family. His friends. His school. His incredible community. By every person who stood beside him, fought for him, prayed for him, supported him and believed in him. His name will be spoken. His story will be told. His beautiful smile will never be forgotten. We are so unbelievably proud of you, Max. Proud of the boy you were, proud of the strength you showed, proud of the courage you carried, and proud that we were lucky enough to call you our son."
Community tributes and memorial plans
A tribute will be held for Max from 6.30pm on Friday, August 14, at Abbey Field in Corby, where a candle will be lit and Max’s favourite music will be played. His mum, Jackie, has been campaigning for more research into brain tumours which has "remained so underfunded for so long".
She said previously that Max had been suffering with headaches for more than a year, but hospital staff "assured me it was just teenage migraines". She added: "He was fit and healthy, he’s a real sporty lad. The only thing he had leading up to this were frequent headaches that turned into migraines, which the hospital dismissed. They were there for over a year and we were just fobbed off with ibuprofen. They didn’t look into his eyes, they diagnosed him based on a conversation. I should have pushed for a head scan."
Weldon Village Academy, the school which Max attended, said he "had a smile that could light up any room". A statement from the school read: "We are devastated to hear of the passing of Max Hall today. Max was one of our founding students and had a smile that could light up any room. Our thoughts are with Max’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. We will be there to support students in September and to honour Max's legacy. It is times like these when communities come together; the WVA Family will never forget Max."
A Corby Town FC spokesman said: "The thoughts of everyone at Corby Town Football Club are with the family and friends of Max Hall, who sadly took his last breath yesterday. Max was a fighter until the very end and your legacy will never be forgotten."
A Kettering and District Weetabix Youth Football League spokesman added: "The Weetabix Youth Football League is devastated to hear of the passing of football fan and former player, Max Hall. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Max’s family, friends, teammates and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. To honour Max’s memory and his love of football, we will be asking all teams to hold a minute’s applause at the start of every game during the opening weekend of the new season. We hope that, together, our football community can come together to remember Max and celebrate the life of someone who was part of our football family."
