A five-year-old boy from Gloucester, who may lose his sight due to rare brain tumours, has realised his dream of visiting Legoland with the help of the Daily Mirror.
Mason Hogg was diagnosed with multiple meningiomas behind his eyes, at the top of his head, base of his skull, and in his neck. Doctors told his mother, Sarah Mckeown, that he is the first child in the world to have tumours in these specific areas, making treatment particularly challenging. It was described as 'touch and go' whether he would lose his eyesight completely.
Sarah launched a campaign to send Mason to Legoland before his sight deteriorates, so he could experience the park with all his senses. The Mirror, Legoland, and GoFundMe helped make it happen. Mason visited Legoland at the end of April with his family, including his mother, aunt, cousin, two older brothers, and their partners.
The family stayed at the Castle Hotel, where Mason solved a riddle to open a safe containing Lego. They were given eight VIP Gold passes, providing unlimited Fastrack access, all-day entry, VIP lanyards, a Lego driving license, and access to the panning for gold attraction. Mason braved The Dragon rollercoaster for the first time and loved it, riding it twice. He also enjoyed The Haunted House Monster Party, which spun riders upside down.
Sarah first noticed Mason's left eye bulging in July last year. After months of swelling and pain, an MRI scan revealed the tumours. Mason's eye had swollen to the size of five coins stacked together before surgery. The family hopes the trip will create lasting memories.
